I like some of the technical changes they made regarding inventory controls, and some of the new functionality as a player, but I miss the whimsical feeling of the first one and the MUSIC of the first one. I don’t know why this one doesn’t feel as magical as the first? Maybe because the story wasn’t as clearly defined in the beginning and I’m not sure of the timeline and how it connects to the first? Regardless, I love being in the Zelda world, so I’m digging it.
My wizard Shazbot reached level 5 before we both became exhausted. I play way too much Hearthstone, so I suppose I am obsessed with that, but I love the Diablo games, and I used to love City of Villains/City of Heroes and cannot understand why there isn’t a game like that today.
Are usually play wizard/sorcerer whenever that’s an option, though I often also play druids/healers. It kind of depends on the game and if I’m alone or I have a team. Magic users can be very squishy so I often play a non-magical class first to learn the ropes and then choose the wizard.
I have friends who are very into Hearthstone and Diablo. I was listening to a podcast interview with a narrative designer who was extolling the virtues of City of Heroes and it sounded neat, particularly the ability to share a written character backstory with other players in game.
Magic users are the coolest IMO, but I often find them to be more complex mechanically, so I like your strategy of learning the ropes with a non-magic class. Do you believe in real life magic? Are there faeries IRL?
I do believe magic exists, though it isn’t the kind of magic that we ascribe to fantasy wizards. People can’t wave a wand and have people turn into a toad. But there is magic, absolutely. As for faeries, I’m not sure. Again, I don’t think they’re what we are used to reading about or seeing on TV, but I think there could be other beings that exist in the liminal space around us.
I stayed on brand and named my wizard Ce Miquiztli, meaning One Death, a day in the Aztec sacred calendar with some sorcery associations. Found the game unwinnable after level 8. Extensively reloaded the save and every enemy killed me no matter what. Against Rotten Hoggo the first spell always failed across who knows how many resets, running to fight other monsters didn't help either because they'd kill me too quickly. Eventually used the reload point to just end it there.
I once spent an entire day trying to beat the ultimate final level in Super Mario 3D World, Crown-Crown. Was driven to tears feeling I'd wasted my entire day. Then beat it the next day in the morning. It's one of the hardest levels in any Mario game. In general I'll usually have periods of getting fixated on a game. My life revolved around Pikmin 4 until I beat it 100%.
Great name! Thanks for the detailed feedback. Damn you, Rotten Hoggo! I tweaked the difficulty so you should be able to get much further now.
Yes, I remember that level! It is extremely difficult and took me a while to beat, too. I've often found that when faced with a difficult problem, if I can, I'll try and come back to it the next day. A night of sleep gives me a fresh perspective.
My wizard is named Lord Trinnington, Lady of the Far Reaches. (I had a boss that called me that, and I've always kind of loved it.) I made it to Level 8 before getting turned in to wizard paste.
Many, many long times ago, my husband's job was moving us from Texas to Oregon. We had everything mostly packed up, I'd quit my job, and a few days before the actual move, they pushed his start date back a month, and told him to just take it as a paid month because his job in TX had been filled. We played at least 12 hours of EverQuest a day, every weekday. I ended up making friends via that game that I still have today, and have visited IRL. Since I work in IT now, I've kind of sworn off PC games, but I'm a devoted Everdell player when I have the time.
Hands down, I'm happiest being the rogue. Rogues do all the cool stuff in the party!
Nope, no magic for me. Ever since I realized that David Copperfield didn't really make the Statue of Liberty disappear I've been disillusioned and skeptical. That man broke my tiny heart.
Lord Trinnington, you brought honor to your mentor and yourself in battle. (Unlike a certain so-called "magician" named Copperfield...)
Wow, what a lucky break! Free month! That's so cool you made close friends in EverQuest. What is it about IT that makes you not want to play PC games? Not enough free time? Just need to get away from the computer on your leisure time?
It's definitely wanting time away from the computer after I've stared at it all day. But there's also a side of missing the camaraderie of gaming with others. All my people are settled down with kids and grown up jobs now, so we can't just spend most of a day hanging out, talking smack, and killing goblins.
Thank you Geoffrey! I'm carving out some time to read/play through your amazing newsletters too (It looks like I have A LOT of catching up to do). Cheers!
I named my wizard Gemini after the awesome Jack Kirby-created dark wizard that Thundarr the Barbarian faced, and I leveled him up to 5! Then I quit and played again to see what a rando sloppy wizard named Xavier the Cockless might find in your world. Boy that hike eastward takes patience lol... and Xavier the Cockless' bony fist punches were NOT the way to go! Funsies tho :) thank you Game Master
Thank you for questing! You have extraordinary taste in wizard names. Yeah, the wizards of this world are not renown for their fisticuffs, so Gemini clearly had a better leveling strategy - and lived to tell the tale!
Rest in Power, Rupert. Specifically, the powers of a Level 8 Wizard.
My favorite part about open world games are the players who, like, learn to fish and then just spend all day fishing and become skilled fishermen. That level of freedom in a game is very appealing.
Mentalo, Level 7, killed by something venomous. I still feel like a powerful wizard. Sadly, I'm not playing any games, but I want to get back into Minecraft dungeons.
I am currently obsessed with Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo Switch), Secret Hitler (board game), and GardenScapes (iPhone). Lol!
That's an excellent cross-section of the Current State of Gaming. How're you digging the new Zelda?
OMG I spoke too soon! 🤪 the sequel is indeed as magical as the first and I’m an impatient fool
Haha what a turnaround! Way to go, Link!
I like some of the technical changes they made regarding inventory controls, and some of the new functionality as a player, but I miss the whimsical feeling of the first one and the MUSIC of the first one. I don’t know why this one doesn’t feel as magical as the first? Maybe because the story wasn’t as clearly defined in the beginning and I’m not sure of the timeline and how it connects to the first? Regardless, I love being in the Zelda world, so I’m digging it.
I guess not every Zelda can be the best Zelda, but still. Zelda!
Zelda is Zelda! Lol
My wizard Shazbot reached level 5 before we both became exhausted. I play way too much Hearthstone, so I suppose I am obsessed with that, but I love the Diablo games, and I used to love City of Villains/City of Heroes and cannot understand why there isn’t a game like that today.
Are usually play wizard/sorcerer whenever that’s an option, though I often also play druids/healers. It kind of depends on the game and if I’m alone or I have a team. Magic users can be very squishy so I often play a non-magical class first to learn the ropes and then choose the wizard.
And I forgot, were there are other questions? 🤪
I love the name Shazbot for a wizard, Jackie! 😁
I agree. That's a high level wizard name.
I have friends who are very into Hearthstone and Diablo. I was listening to a podcast interview with a narrative designer who was extolling the virtues of City of Heroes and it sounded neat, particularly the ability to share a written character backstory with other players in game.
Magic users are the coolest IMO, but I often find them to be more complex mechanically, so I like your strategy of learning the ropes with a non-magic class. Do you believe in real life magic? Are there faeries IRL?
I do believe magic exists, though it isn’t the kind of magic that we ascribe to fantasy wizards. People can’t wave a wand and have people turn into a toad. But there is magic, absolutely. As for faeries, I’m not sure. Again, I don’t think they’re what we are used to reading about or seeing on TV, but I think there could be other beings that exist in the liminal space around us.
You’re leaving the door open. I like that! 🧚
I stayed on brand and named my wizard Ce Miquiztli, meaning One Death, a day in the Aztec sacred calendar with some sorcery associations. Found the game unwinnable after level 8. Extensively reloaded the save and every enemy killed me no matter what. Against Rotten Hoggo the first spell always failed across who knows how many resets, running to fight other monsters didn't help either because they'd kill me too quickly. Eventually used the reload point to just end it there.
I once spent an entire day trying to beat the ultimate final level in Super Mario 3D World, Crown-Crown. Was driven to tears feeling I'd wasted my entire day. Then beat it the next day in the morning. It's one of the hardest levels in any Mario game. In general I'll usually have periods of getting fixated on a game. My life revolved around Pikmin 4 until I beat it 100%.
Always go for the magic using classes personally.
Great name! Thanks for the detailed feedback. Damn you, Rotten Hoggo! I tweaked the difficulty so you should be able to get much further now.
Yes, I remember that level! It is extremely difficult and took me a while to beat, too. I've often found that when faced with a difficult problem, if I can, I'll try and come back to it the next day. A night of sleep gives me a fresh perspective.
My wizard is named Lord Trinnington, Lady of the Far Reaches. (I had a boss that called me that, and I've always kind of loved it.) I made it to Level 8 before getting turned in to wizard paste.
Many, many long times ago, my husband's job was moving us from Texas to Oregon. We had everything mostly packed up, I'd quit my job, and a few days before the actual move, they pushed his start date back a month, and told him to just take it as a paid month because his job in TX had been filled. We played at least 12 hours of EverQuest a day, every weekday. I ended up making friends via that game that I still have today, and have visited IRL. Since I work in IT now, I've kind of sworn off PC games, but I'm a devoted Everdell player when I have the time.
Hands down, I'm happiest being the rogue. Rogues do all the cool stuff in the party!
Nope, no magic for me. Ever since I realized that David Copperfield didn't really make the Statue of Liberty disappear I've been disillusioned and skeptical. That man broke my tiny heart.
Lord Trinnington, you brought honor to your mentor and yourself in battle. (Unlike a certain so-called "magician" named Copperfield...)
Wow, what a lucky break! Free month! That's so cool you made close friends in EverQuest. What is it about IT that makes you not want to play PC games? Not enough free time? Just need to get away from the computer on your leisure time?
It's definitely wanting time away from the computer after I've stared at it all day. But there's also a side of missing the camaraderie of gaming with others. All my people are settled down with kids and grown up jobs now, so we can't just spend most of a day hanging out, talking smack, and killing goblins.
Totally. I love board game nights because they get me away from screens and it's a good excuse to play games with friends.
This mini-text adventure is so fun - well done! 🧙♂️
Thanks for playing! Glad you enjoyed this bite-size quest.
I loved the interview you did with Rose Estes. Looking forward to reading more of your work.
Thank you Geoffrey! I'm carving out some time to read/play through your amazing newsletters too (It looks like I have A LOT of catching up to do). Cheers!
Later this year I’ll have published 100 quests! (I still can’t believe it.)
😮 Wow - that's amazing, congratulations!
I named my wizard Gemini after the awesome Jack Kirby-created dark wizard that Thundarr the Barbarian faced, and I leveled him up to 5! Then I quit and played again to see what a rando sloppy wizard named Xavier the Cockless might find in your world. Boy that hike eastward takes patience lol... and Xavier the Cockless' bony fist punches were NOT the way to go! Funsies tho :) thank you Game Master
Thank you for questing! You have extraordinary taste in wizard names. Yeah, the wizards of this world are not renown for their fisticuffs, so Gemini clearly had a better leveling strategy - and lived to tell the tale!
My wizard, Rupert Grint, has perished. He valiantly made it to level 8, though.
I used to be obsessed with the Elder Scrolls games (Morrowind and Skyrim in particular). I loved the expansive, open worlds. Too much fun!
Rest in Power, Rupert. Specifically, the powers of a Level 8 Wizard.
My favorite part about open world games are the players who, like, learn to fish and then just spend all day fishing and become skilled fishermen. That level of freedom in a game is very appealing.
Mentalo, Level 7, killed by something venomous. I still feel like a powerful wizard. Sadly, I'm not playing any games, but I want to get back into Minecraft dungeons.
You are a powerful wizard! There's no shame in dying. There's only shame in not leveling at all.