tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post587870454913675210..comments2024-03-29T05:19:30.673-04:00Comments on The Grumpy Elf: Monday Random ThoughtsTheGrumpyElfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-54751021583377450052014-11-12T11:08:39.047-05:002014-11-12T11:08:39.047-05:00I see where you are going and I actually do agree....I see where you are going and I actually do agree. But without spending an insane amount of time on the game a persons skill would get them nowhere. I would have never won a single thing if I did not spend money because I did not spend thousands of hours otherwise. Sure, buying "speeds" things up, but it does not change the fact that it is pay to win.<br /><br />But once again, it was the same for magic. All buying did was "speed" things up. I knew a great many top ranked players, higher than myself, that never spent a dime. They borrowed cards, played for bets, won packs, won tournaments, spent hours upon hours at neutral ground (was in Manhattan, huge magic place, now closed, you can look it up) working trades and moving up and getting that one card they needed.<br /><br />They, like you said, could only work one deck without paying, but they managed to do it with a lot of time and effort.<br /><br />So being you CAN do it without paying doesn't mean it is not pay to win. It just means you have an insane amount of free time and dedication and skill.<br /><br />If you put those things together, free time, dedication, and skill, you can do okay with hearthstone just like you could with magic. But if you are a normal person you need to spend money to "speed" the process up. That is pay to win.<br /><br />And no, me boosting for professions is not the same. I can level them myself if I so wanted to. I am a hoarder and have all the mats. I just look at it as buying gold. Why waste the mats leveling a profession when I can sell the mats and make gold.<br /><br />Effectively, the 60 to 90 boost is me buying gold legally, nothing more, nothing less. That is also why I do not boost 1 to 90, there is nothing in it for me. Also gold does not "win" the game. But the right cards do. <br /><br />The difference is skill.<br /><br />With gold or without gold, I play at the same skill level, it does not effect me in any way, shape or form in warcraft. So me paying makes absolutely zero different. Boost to 90 is NOT pay to win as it makes no difference.<br /><br />With or without cards, regardless of my skill, even if I were the best player in the world, I would never win without the cards. They are required to win. Being money buys cards and cards win games, it is pay to win.<br /><br />I am not sure which type of player you are as you did not say but I am not trying to offend you here because I said a game you like is pay to win. I am just stating facts.<br /><br />Here, let me put it this way, which should completely end the conversation.<br /><br />Can a person that "pays" to buy cards but is much lesser skilled beat someone that has never paid but has a higher skill level?<br /><br />Absolutely, due to the strength of the cards.<br /><br />That is the definition of pay to win. When someone with less skill can win due to spending money.<br /><br />At the top level of hearthstone you need to both spend AND have skill, lots of it. But the middle of the pack and lower, whoever spends the most win. Fact, like it or not.TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-20586218437411825722014-11-12T09:48:17.972-05:002014-11-12T09:48:17.972-05:00You had to pay to buy the cards in MTG that's ...You had to pay to buy the cards in MTG that's what made it pay to win. You don't have to pay to get the same cards as anyone else in Hearthstone. Paying only saves you time to collect those cards. You can be successful without paying. Has been proven many times with F2P accounts still taken to top legend. If you could pay money for all your cards to be more powerful, or if certain very powerful cards were only available for money, that would be pay to win. <br /><br />You can still level your professions in wow without paying, so paying to level it isn't pay to win, it's pay for time. Same concept. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-5844949606548036612014-11-10T20:52:52.202-05:002014-11-10T20:52:52.202-05:00It is not an excuse for bad players. That is some...It is not an excuse for bad players. That is something people that are offended by the term "pay to win" say to defend against the term.<br /><br />I am not against the instant 90s, but not for levels, for professions. I would never pay for a level 1 to 90, but I would pay for a 60 to 90 because it also boosts professions.<br /><br />Now, to put that in hearthstone terms. If I could pay to buy a entire "set" of cards, I see no problem with that. As long as all cards can be attained otherwise it is just a time saving method. This would be equal to the boost to 90.<br /><br />But being it is packs, and packs are based on luck, the person who spends the most, or is the luckiest with what they spend wins. It is pay to win.<br /><br />Trust me. I was a top DCI player of magic many many moons ago and I spent a small fortune buying cases to get the rares. So I know more than a little bit about the topic.<br /><br />Yes, there is a lot of skill involved in making a winning deck and using it effectively. But even if my skill made me a top rated player, it was money that put me in the position to be so. <br /><br />It was pay to win, same as hearthstone. And I would have never got offended by someone who said I paid to win even if it was my skill that won, because I DID pay to win. That is why I had the right cards, I paid for them.<br /><br />So no, it is not an excuse for bad players. It is a flat out fact. Sorry if that offended you but often the truth does hurt.TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-3898990563733802992014-11-10T19:32:31.643-05:002014-11-10T19:32:31.643-05:00http://www.polygon.com/2014/5/9/5699178/hearthston...http://www.polygon.com/2014/5/9/5699178/hearthstone-pay-to-win<br /><br />If you want to have every card you generally have to pay, but that's similar to wanting every mount in WoW you have to pay for that as well. If you just want to be competitive there are a number of cheap decks that still get to legend. The difference usually comes down to if you want to do it completely free then you need to focus on one class. It is more similar to paying for the level boost in WoW, which you have said you are for, that it just saves you time. If you just don't like it that's fine. If you don't have the time to play that's fine, but don't just say it's pay to win. That's just an excuse for bad players. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-56116075998946606762014-11-10T15:08:13.190-05:002014-11-10T15:08:13.190-05:00Yeah, I have not played in a while so I do not kno...Yeah, I have not played in a while so I do not know the card names or anything. The idea still get across. I was dead, they were smug, I won. That, in the end, is all that matters right?TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-38516980979290434632014-11-10T13:17:16.499-05:002014-11-10T13:17:16.499-05:00I think you may be mis-remembering some of the det...I think you may be mis-remembering some of the details on that Hearthstone game, but either way it's always fun when you come back from the brink like that. Cainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06787494494043104629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-45625234081947021232014-11-05T12:36:20.602-05:002014-11-05T12:36:20.602-05:00I am sad to say my guild is not capable of helping...I am sad to say my guild is not capable of helping other like that. :(<br /><br />We can carry a bunch of people to a heroic kill, we do a dozen kills a week lately for them, but are not skilled enough to do that on mythic. I am jealous.<br /><br />That is pretty awesome of you to help out your guild members, even the ones that do not raid, so they get a shot at the mount and get the achievement. Sounds like you are a good group of people you have there.TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-17994347123580840772014-11-05T10:27:19.746-05:002014-11-05T10:27:19.746-05:00I don't see a problem either. I'm actually...I don't see a problem either. I'm actually happy the guild can get achi and mount for a lot of our people. Was just saying that after one year of not playing, it feels really off.Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18173436197557929355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-39835540855871606412014-11-05T07:33:45.489-05:002014-11-05T07:33:45.489-05:00If only I would make a few posts per day. I'v...If only I would make a few posts per day. I've had so many things I have wanted to complain about recently that I have just let go. lolTheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-69138264749203130372014-11-05T07:32:53.824-05:002014-11-05T07:32:53.824-05:00My guild is not that good. I don't think we c...My guild is not that good. I don't think we could stand in one place and burn it down, and even if we could, I would never allow it. I never let people slack off on movement and mechanics. If you let people do that it gives them the chance to fall into bad habits.<br /><br />A better guild with better players can surely get away with it. But when you are talking a bunch of casual players that could fall into bad habits, you can't let things like that happen.<br /><br />I do agree however that is it a lot easier now. It is much more forgiving now. You can make mistakes and get away with stuff. So yes, I see what you are saying. Mythic (old heroic) is maybe just a tiny bit harder than heroic (old normal) was now. For this late in an expansion and for one month only, I see no problem with that.TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-217486582910986382014-11-05T01:07:55.276-05:002014-11-05T01:07:55.276-05:00It is "new". Take Siegecrafter for examp...It is "new". Take Siegecrafter for example. A year ago it was tactics, cooldown and positioning. Now it's all gather in one spor and burn the boss down, ignore everything else. Mostly every boss uses lfr tacts now since mythic and it throws you off how different it is. My guild does a full run in 1.5-2hrs, squeezing two runs back to back in a raid day to get everyone the mythic achi and as many mounts as possible. With 400+ unique accounts, we're taking everybody, from social to core. I dnt recall this ever being the case.Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18173436197557929355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-55858057604945386322014-11-04T23:52:15.787-05:002014-11-04T23:52:15.787-05:00I feel a bit bad, it's not that I don't li...I feel a bit bad, it's not that I don't like TGE's posts on Garrisons... I just don't like Garrison talk but I like every other bit of TGE talk. So I can't help it when I'm hanging out for a non Garrisons TGE post :PNavimiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08504557372435466448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-4121597969069117822014-11-04T21:44:17.761-05:002014-11-04T21:44:17.761-05:00That would be kind of cool.That would be kind of cool.TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-20346306530139146042014-11-04T20:25:35.287-05:002014-11-04T20:25:35.287-05:00I did thank her and told her I came over via you. ...I did thank her and told her I came over via you. <br /><br />And yes, they are cool. <br /><br />I just wish I could have the rocket pack as a mount. :) Now that would be cool. -abhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14899567485973250660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-10211712143406730792014-11-04T19:12:35.937-05:002014-11-04T19:12:35.937-05:00Awesome. Enjoy, and be sure to thank her for the ...Awesome. Enjoy, and be sure to thank her for the awesome map. :)<br /><br />Aren't those wings cool?TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-3526436047151318272014-11-04T17:17:53.153-05:002014-11-04T17:17:53.153-05:00went to that site, found teh map, saw the pattern ...went to that site, found teh map, saw the pattern and got them all. fun, fun, fun. Now on my 4th toon to get it. I know, I know, only 1 toy, and really 1 achievement needed, but I like the ride! Thanks for pointing it out and that goes to Ril also!!!!<br /><br />-roo <i>"that magnificence dwarf in that flying machine"</i>-abhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14899567485973250660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-67683024546398731932014-11-04T14:08:18.844-05:002014-11-04T14:08:18.844-05:00I knew there had to be a reason for this new ride....I knew there had to be a reason for this new ride. I will check - thank you.<br /><br />-roo-abhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14899567485973250660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-10988821527647576292014-11-04T13:14:10.139-05:002014-11-04T13:14:10.139-05:00Heck, nothing about smarts, just so much to rememb...Heck, nothing about smarts, just so much to remember. I needed to write it so I had it all in one place for me to go back to look also. lolTheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-87770818785342174842014-11-04T13:06:23.564-05:002014-11-04T13:06:23.564-05:00They come from the new quest at the darkmoon faire...They come from the new quest at the darkmoon faire if you can get 50 rings before falling. Took me three tries to find a good pattern for it. Check over at bubbles of mischief on my links at the side, she made an awesome post with a link to a path that makes it really easy.TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-1554054859290967922014-11-04T10:30:06.266-05:002014-11-04T10:30:06.266-05:00Blazing Wing toy??? wtf - where did you guys get t...Blazing Wing toy??? wtf - where did you guys get this?-abhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14899567485973250660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-69666953219136390652014-11-04T10:28:04.966-05:002014-11-04T10:28:04.966-05:00well, GE, you know I appreciate them.
Some of us...well, GE, you know I appreciate them. <br /><br />Some of us aren't that smart and need things like your guides written at a level we can understand. <br /><br />Otherwise, with the way my brain is now, I would be stuck for years. <br /><br />Thanks again for them. -abhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14899567485973250660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-69254973514092000092014-11-04T09:59:09.411-05:002014-11-04T09:59:09.411-05:00The herb and ore things could cause burnout if you...The herb and ore things could cause burnout if you force yourself to get them. That is the only part of running a garrison that could take any real time. I think it took me twice a long to clear the mine as it did to do everything else combined.<br /><br />I know what you are saying, and I know the obsessive nature of people like me who will feel they "have" to gather everything from every garrison every day. So you are right there.<br /><br />But to equal it out there is no valor grind, no reason to cap each week, no dailies, no scenarios, no dungeons (after you got your gear from them), no anything to do really. So all you have is your garrisons, raid night, and PvP.<br /><br />So it is balanced by the fact there is nothing to do in warlords, which might, just might, help with the burn out feeling.<br /><br />The dailies burnt people out because they felt they had to do them and by doing them they were not doing other things they also needed to do. The garrison are all there is to do. So doing them is not keeping you from doing something else. So yes, you are right, some people will suffer burnout, but I do not see it being as bad as mists dailies.TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-28075190538599236032014-11-04T08:01:11.257-05:002014-11-04T08:01:11.257-05:00Here's where I think the burnout is:
You see ...Here's where I think the burnout is:<br /><br />You see garrisons, somehow you decide you need more than one, you do more than one. You now have to gather herbs and ores daily else they are wasted, that's some time. You also have to keep all the buildings running = have to farm mats (no, what you got from garden / mine isn't enough), that's some more time. You also have to get the right followers and these should be high level = have to send them on missions, that's more time. Missions require garrison resources, so you likely take LM or take TP and farm more mats to exchange for these resources - that's more time. Add gear for followers, which also takes time, add double followers for each professions so you can level one and have another work in the building, that's more time, etc. And all of that is per char.<br /><br />Garrisons are 5 min only after you got everything, including a big stock of mats in advance. Before that, they aren't 5 minutes at all. At least that's what I saw in the beta. And even 20 minutes per, say, 4 chars, is more than an hour a day. Just to keep it all running in order to maybe bring some profit in the future.PVP anonhttp://nowhere.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-13132593041738162292014-11-04T07:58:38.998-05:002014-11-04T07:58:38.998-05:00Make friends in pugs? Never. :P
I used to make l...Make friends in pugs? Never. :P<br /><br />I used to make lots of friends in pugs. Heck, most of the people on my friends list are from back before the group finder and the only way you made a group is by having friends.<br /><br />However with that said I can not recall the last person I added to my friends list since cross server raiding was added. If I said none, I would probably be spot on. Maybe there is 1 I forgot about, at most.TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9015737272343810105.post-41581703077660238842014-11-04T07:36:06.563-05:002014-11-04T07:36:06.563-05:00I wish I had been able to take advantage of that e...I wish I had been able to take advantage of that experience loophole but it was fixed by the time I got home from work.<br /><br />Hate to sound bitter here, but I wish blizzard would either 1) let me do it the way everyone else did or 2) delevel the people that did it.<br /><br />I feel slighted. I read about it and was so excited to go level a few characters that way only to get shafted and not be able to. Lets face it, I level in less than 24 hours to begin with, so what am I really skipping, a few hours? Let me level fast.<br /><br />If anything blizzard screwed themselves out of some money by fixing it before I got home. I was going to level a few horde characters to 60 and then pay to boost them. So they lost at least $120 and maybe more by fixing it.<br /><br />Garrisons take maybe 5 minutes. More if you go and mine, but otherwise just 5 minutes, at most. Not exactly what anyone would call a long time. Trust me, garrisons will not fill the loss of content because garrisons, once built, are not content as all, they are background.<br /><br />They say SoO will never happen again, but they said DS will never happen again, they said ICC will never happen again, they said there will never be flying in the old world, they said... you get the idea. I do not buy it, we will be sitting for a year and a half in this raid because they only designed for 2 raid tiers. I do not believe blizzard can get better when they keep getting worse. I won't believe it until I see it.<br /><br />I do not see the burnout you mention, as I said, garrison have little to no upkeep and what they have takes no time at all.<br /><br />If there is burn out it will come from people trying to level so many characters so quickly so they can get the buildings they need. Not the garrisons themselves. The leveling to open them up. Once they are opened, there is nothing to garrisons except logging in and collecting old work orders and starting new ones. I can honestly see you managing 20 characters once max out faster than it took to do 1 farm in mists.TheGrumpyElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621615711198405365noreply@blogger.com