Revisiting Shimmersand (part one)

Shimmersand have always been that special place in Rift for me. Ever since I was farming Ancient Golden Dragon Egg Shells for that Earth/Fire World Event. Yes, each patch in the early days of Rift had separate world event, that was somehow unique to the 'standard' annual festivals. One of the things I surely miss today, because they felt so rewarding, plus being 'one time only'. Pre-Storm Legion Carnival of the Ascended had a neat event phase in Shimmersand, too.

I spent days farming that Dragonslayer Covenant minority for the outfit, Drake Slayer and mount. Probably a personal achievement that I'm most proud of. Years after, that dirty white robe is still my favorite wardrobe gear and I rarely switch it with something different. The title and the mount not that often, but damn right I'm one of the Covenant! :)

I love everything about Shimmersand. The eastern ambient, the sand, the pools, the mobs and even that 'hidden' place where you can teleported too, above the whole desert. Maybe it's just nostalgia, but it's my favorite 'sandish' zone in all Telara. Storm Legion's similar zone aren't even close. Comparing to Shimmersand, they just lack soul, although the whole idea of those places should invoke that. Barren and abandoned, with tons of secrets under that sand.

I went back to farm a mount which I don't have from a lure that opens a Rift from where the mount drops, Sinister Tide. But ended up doing a Zone Event. Probably will farm these until the mount drops and there's no place better then Shimmersand. The lures are also a good way to spend my excessive amount of Planarite, so that's what I'm gonna be doing these days.

In my second part, I will make a more visual tour of the desert, which by the way isn't abandoned at all, it's full of people, so stay tuned.

Warfronts are still awesome

Although, World PvP seems dead now (it hasn't been quite alive even before Storm Legion), I really like what have become of the Warfronts. These new control point (paths?) mods are just amazing. I never been a hardcore PvP player, but I had the pre-SL PvP endgame gear. Not saying that my PvP skills were perfect, but I was able to help the team I played for a lot. Rift offered me one of the best PvP experiences in MMO. To this day, the Codex is still my favorite Warfront. Even if the PvP in Rift was never 100% balanced, it is still extremely enjoyable.

So, I popped Favor/Prestige Veteran vials today and here I am. Trying out the Warfronts, blasting my pyrospells around. Currently my rank is 45 and my gear is a complete crap and I hope I can change that in the future. There are some very good players now, with nice gear and practiced skill and matches can be quite challenging.

I also enjoyed Conquest "back in the days" and can't wait to try the new one in Steppes of Infinity.

Back to Rift!

I've left Rift right after Fae Yule 2012. Although, I enjoyed Storm Legion at the beginning, something didn't clicked for me right or I just burnt out after a while. Meanwhile, the game went free-to-play, leaving my 12-months subscription fading away. I logged in few times in the past 16-17 months, but that was it.

Now, I'm kinda back. My guild is still here, I transferred the characters to the new shard (they have few more opened) and I engaged in Rifting activities again. The game is blooming! At least for me and all those new and old people still playing it! Seems like Rift is living new glory days and I'm part of it. The new zone, the Dendrome is fun, beautiful and I enjoyed exploring it. New quests, new challenges, even Bloodfire events. I also participated in the new Mayhem event last week. Feels so fresh to me. Currently, I'm learning the new things and remembering the old. A lot has changed.


My veteran status allows me to fully enjoy the game, although my subscription is long gone. I can still access the auction house and do things non-subscribers can do. I could even buy mounts, pets and anything Trion returned to me for my Storm Chaser purchase.

I also killed Volan. Finally, the giant bastard is finished by my hands (and few more raid groups, of course). I never had the chance to do it in "my days" and today I finally experienced the epic battle. One of the most fun encounters I've ever had in a MMORPG.

I will post my new experiences in Telara these days, so let's say All You Can Rift blog is back again. See you around!

Fae Yuling around Telara

Yes, I've been enjoy Storm Legion for the past month, I couldn't even come here and write how good it is, despite the flaws. So, what's going on? Fae Yule festival is here again and it's richer than last year. More daily quests, more prices and the whole atmosphere is totally awesome. It even returned me back in Meridian, to see my old NPC folks and to have snowball fights with my fellow Telarans and Ascended.

I got the festival cape, mount and one of the two pets - Dasher. Currently collecting snowflakes to get the second one, along with the nice 28 slot bag. I already have my Fae Yule goods from last year, so I'm saving for the new ones. 

Fae Yule is everywhere, even in the deserts of Ashora! Too bad Brevane and Dusken lacks a wintery zone. Already in Phase 2, the third one is coming soon. There are even subscriber bonuses starting from December 24th. 

How to get the best achievement in City Core

Rusted Entertainers 

I was 'carnaging' (is this how we call it now?) around City Core when I came across a gazebo and there was a band of rusted guys hitting their drums, playing some weird music. Yes, I tried to kill them and I got the funniest achievement in City Core and Storm Legion so far. And I don't even just go around killing bands in video games. It even comes with a 'Killjoy' title.

 

 Location of the Rusted Entertainers

So, how do you get this awesome 'I Didn't Like What They Were Playing Anyway' achievement. Go to City Core (7233, 9173) and locate this rusty band. After you kill their last member, you will be known as the Killjoy. Gratz.

 

Storm Legion: Cape Jule Journey (with screenshots)

Yes, Storm Legion is finally here! It's massive, has breath-taking zones and it's full of old and new people! Trion made one of the best expansions ever. Bravo!

I'm going to be leveling my character zone by zone. There is a lot to explore and I have no reason to rush. I've spent these days in Cape Jule, a lush rainforest on the Brevane continent. That's the zone I choose to start my journey and I completed all the Carnage and Normal quest and got the achievement for both.

The main settlement in Cape Jule (or city) is Tulan. You can find the trainer for crafting there as well as the ship that takes you to the new capital - Tempest Bay. Tulan has astonishing design, but it's only a partial of what you're about to see in other zones.

Without spoiling the story in Cape Jule, here's a part of my journey presented with screenshots. Hit Read More below to see the beauty of Cape Jule.

Phase 2 of Tempest Rising and City Sieges

Before I start with my experience in the Tempest Rising World Event, let me say few other things about this whole patch. Although, 1.11 brought many, many changes which made many, many people angry, what we actually have here might be just a part of history. History of Rift, Telara, Trion and the whole MMO genre. Something that will go down like a turning point of the game. Something that will have players, years after Storm Legion expansion, talking about this Tempest Rising adventures and how they led to the new continents.

And no, this isn't the worst Rift patch. And yes, I got this after I let go of my old Pyromancer build and accepted the changes with full arms. No, I can't be mad at something I love so much more than one day. It's might be selfish and subjective, but what the hell.

Now, about the Second Phase of Tempest Rising. It's actually pretty cool. People from the 'far away land' are setting in Iron Pine Peak to help my currently favorite team - the Icewatch. Highly suspicious Queen Miela (she really looks like the human form of Crucia) is also there, and she needs help from you, the Ascended. Her and her people, along with the Icewatch are fighting the Storm Legion forces, who are building settlements around Iron Pine Peak. There are few daily quests in which you aid the friendly people with barricades, ballistas and you're even releasing Yetis at the Storm Legion camps. Poor Yetis, it really broke my heart the way I dragged them there. I never had anything against Iron Pine Yetis, I even have a Yeti pet. Never tried to understand what wrong did they meant to those bastards who gave me quests to kill them.

Anyway, Yeti fur aside, we're getting to City Sieges. The quests from Iron Pine led me to Asha Catari in Meridian which actually opened the City Siege Instant Adventures. Pretty much like 'normal' IA's but these are inside the town! And they are everywhere, of course, Storm Legion themed. You'll be fighting various 'stormy' creatures like owls, elementals, build barricades to defend the city, recruit soldiers... you know, the usual thing when your city is under a goddamn siege. The Storm Legion is actually inside Meridian which makes is kinda not-that-cool because only players and nearby NPCs are involved. I mean, it's a city siege and it's a small city, you know! You're fighting of a bad ass massive boss for your achievement (you'll probably grind for a while to get it) in Meridian Training Yard and freaking Trena is across the street teaching people how to fish! Not saying that every single NPC should be in battle, but why not place the Storm Legion camp elsewhere? Like, outside of city walls? However, this whole City Siege thing is neat, but it might get boring after a while.

I really cannot wait what will the next phase bring. This one is so good so far and I'm loving it. And if anybody's counting, Storm Legion is coming live in three weeks!