TF2: How the Mannconomy Changed our Little Game

So as a frequent reader of this blog may tell you, (which I don't there are any,) that I enjoy hats. I am a connoisseur oh hats. Want to know how to make a game better? Hats. Yes, I can be completely obsessed with hats at times, I know, but I wasn’t truly attached to TF2 until I started trading, and I think it would be a touching story to tell all of you.

So, I when reading the blog when the Mannconomy update was released, I mean really, I had just randomly decided to go to the TF2 blog when it aired. It was pretty cool. I learned about vintages, and I instantly saw my true love. 

Nothing makes me happier than a blue border.

But, at this time, I hadn't started playing TF2 hard-core. I still had my horrid little computer, and about a gig's worth of updating to do, but something convinced me: the aspect of an Engineer hat.

So, about a week into the mannconomy update, I decided to put on my gaming pants, and started my 4 hour download into the world of mannconomics. What followed was a shallow goal: Acquire an engineer hat, anyway possible. I had 2 refined, a V. Gentleman's Gatsby, and a W. Noble Amassment of Hats. (For all of you non-traders out there, V stands for vintage, and NV. non-vintage. A vintage item was an item received before the mannconomy update, its simple mannconomics.)

So, I ended up selling my V.  Gatsby for a key, (There was a powerjack in the crate) and I forget what I sold my V. Amassment for, but all I remember is trying to get that metal. For whatever godforsaken reason I thought that crafting my hat was the best idea. So, I sold just about everything I had to get it. So, when I finally got that 4th refined and my Engy token, it really was a big moment for me. I was literally happy with any hat for the Engineer, except like the mining light or the Safe'n'Sound. But, I was excited.

3...

2..

1...

New Hat Created!

You found: Horrific Headsplitter!

That's right-- I made a butcher's knife covered in blood, for all classes. This was my crowning achievement. I was ready to explode into a fit of QQ induced rage. Of all the times to craft a hat. I crafted it during the Halloween update, and for whatever reason, my Engineer token, supposedly guaranteeing a 100% chance of Engy-hat goodness had given me this blood covered piece of multi-class bullshit. Well, I was mad as hell, and wasn't going to take it anymore. Trading had made me lose my hats, it was going ot get me them back.

I started trading full-time for about a 4 month period. I started out by getting rid of this abhorrent thing that had dashed my dreams of hat-filled goodness. I started hitting the trade servers and yelled out my demands, looking for anyone who may be interested. And then, one man trades me saying:

"HAY MAN WHAT U WANT FOR THAT THING?"

"Well, I'm really looking for an Engineer hat"

"HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM... ALL I GOT IS THIS"

He adds a V. Hotrod, I can only try typo hold in my girly squeals of delight.

"This works well with me."

"ALL RIGHT'

Trade Accepted.

 SUCCESS! Oh yes, this was the beginning of my 500 hour trading palooza. I didn’t play on my Xbox for a good 2 months at the peak. I had one goal: collect the best hats for all of the classes, not a full set, but my favorite. My other goal: bills and buds. For whatever reason, I was never truly concerned about the unusual market, it was usually out of reach, at my height, I only owned 2 pairs of buds, and I was a stupid child, and sold one pair for a very inexpensive price. But now, I think I could possibly be done with trading. I had 3 different runs on trading, all leading me up to my final backpack, which I’m happy with. I used to own buds, but, well, I sold them for New Vegas. I know it’s a bit on the low side, but the guy wanted them, and I didn’t really look at the value tables. And then the dual misc slot update. There really is no justice.

However, I have to say, I am proud of how far I’ve come with the time I’ve spent. I have a hat for every single class, I have the two rarest vintage miscellaneous items, and I even have a bear. What more could I ask for?  Well, I suppose a free Hat of Undeniable Wealth and Respect would be nice, but I can’t have it all. My dream has come much farther than I ever dreamt, and has taken much longer, too. As a piece of advice for all of you inspiring traders out there I put together a list of things that could very well help you:

·         Don’t trade with your heart. Yes, some hats are cool, but if it’s a good trade, take it, you can get the hat back.

·         Set yourself a goal. If it’s unusual, cool. If it’s something simple like a jackhammer, I think you may be missing the point. But, use it as a tool of motivation, it really helps when you have something like the Whiskered Gentleman dangling around in front of your face for motivation

·         The one thing I have always believed is that vintage WILL go up. And for the most part, it has. Be wary of the newest hats, they’ll fluxgate to a high price, and go down to nothing after a month. Scarcity causes a scare.

·         There are three ranks of values in Trading: Bills, buds, Unusual. I never broke that unusual barrier, but once you break one, you’re in that tire, it’s a big experience.

For all of you gamers, geeks, and random assortment of internet dwellers out there, good night. I have things to do, like watch the IGA’s. If Skyrim doesn’t win, the progress is rigged.

--Santa

WHY XBOX WHY?

So, I wake up earlier this week and think "YEAH! TIME TO DO BLOG POSTS!"

Didn't happen.

I'm sorry, internet-at-large, but Santa has many things to do. Like Skyrim (Expect a continuation of my review over it in the next few days), or LOL cats. Oh yes, my love for those "Adorabul littl kitteh's" is undying.

But, I'm here now, and you know what that means!

Xbox has changed their Dashboard. Again.

Isn't he cute? Got him a hat and everything!

I got on to play Skyrim at 3:37 am like I always do on Wednesday mornings and was surprised by the "DOWNLOAD NOW" option shove into my face. Another 20 minutes later I found that my abhorrent internet connection had brought me an early gift-- a new thing to memorize.

Listen Microsoft, I know you love money, and most of the time, I oblige to your money-grabbing ways. I didn't even go kamakazi when you decided to up the price of XBL, or when you thought "Let's change to the NXE!" Since I got my cute little avatar, as seen to the right. So now, XBL has changed from the "New Xbox Experience" to the new "New Xbox Experience." The only thing I've experienced since the change is my cynicism going through the roof. 

Maybe I'm just too annoyed by change to "appreciate" the new layout. I mean, really, all they did was change it to be more like the Wii. Look at it: Its all boxxy (not her) and white. It's so sterile I could operate on my little avatar (also from the Wii, except done better) and sell his little cybernetic kidneys on eBay for 25 cents each. Sorry little me,  but I could use another pack of Juicy Fruit.

I'm certain in about 3 months I'll have forgotten all about the change, and come to accept it for what it is. The new layout looks essentially like Windows 8, and I'm certain that wasn't just by chance. I appreciate Microsoft trying to keep it all "fresh" or whatever it is that the kids are saying these days, but all they've done is make it look like an over-sized cell phone that plays fancy games. I think I'll just stay off the Xbox for awhile, show them my distaste in their ideas.

Just kidding, I'm only level 33 in Skyrim, I've got to fix that.

--Santa

THE POWER WITHIN (Skyrim)

Ladies and Gentlemen, it IS time for my opinions! Get ready, you know that I've got my soapbox out.

11.11.11. Best day ever

So, I was waiting in live with these two bros when I got my game. At midnight. 21 days ago. I got the Xbox version, and begged my friend for his statue. My statue of Noble Team is getting lonely, and I forgot to get the special addition of Arkham City. I even offered him 60 bucks, but no, he claimed that he wanted does. What does he think I'm made of, deer? I'M NOT.

So, I get home at 2 am, and install the game onto my Hardrive and wait. 10 seconds later, I launch. By this time I'm already falling asleep, and turn up the volume of the opening cut scene. So, I get to the point of character building, and my life purpose becomes clear.

So of course one of my favorite things about Oblivion was making people horrendously ugly. It wasn't quite as easy to do this in Skyrim.So, there I was. Sitting at ease in m La-Z-Boy, just about ready to fall asleep when  I pushed myself together! Who was I to sleep when there was Skyrim to play? I MUST PUSH ON! 

And so I did. As I looked onto my options, I decided that I was going to do an Imperial. I'm not quite sure why, but I did. Don't judge me. I then decided to make a chick, something that I somewhat regret. But, there I was, sitting with my Female Imperial, and all I needed was a name. A name stupid enough to roll together the Imperial-Female combo. And so, Virginia was born.

Going through the main tutorial, almost being executed and dodging fire blasts from that horrible monster Alduin, Virgina got to the point where she could choose her own destiny. Well, I chose it for her, she wasn't the brightest bulb on the Hanukkah Tree. But, I went to bed. It was 3 am, and I was horribly tired.

I woke up the next day with a horrendous disease, and found myself unable to attend school. To regain my strength, I had to keep playing Skyrim, I knew it was the only cure. I found this world: wide open with many possibilities, and all in 1080p. I found myself cured in no time. 

So, some big changes from Oblivion to Skyrim is the lack of a class system-- everything is equal. Every level goes toward your next actual level up. Leveling up now occurs up to 50 times, and comes with a cute little. you also get a health point, mana, or stamina boost, and stamina will also boost your carrying capacity.  All of this together makes leveling up easier, and more enjoyable. It also makes minor skills less. Finally, I can level up just by making 27,083 Iron daggers! My dream come true! However, I don't like the new pickpocketing skill. Talk about a waste of time and effort. It'll take me years to train. That level 50 achievement is a doozy.

the new combat system is a dual wielder's dream. Taking a cue from Bioshock 2 they've made it so your spells can be continuous, or you can place traps. You can still use giant balls of death if you so choose. There are two handed weapons, swords, shields (which you can now bash with) and staffs. Don't even get me started with the wonders of Wabbajack, it'd take me hours. They have also added shouts. Like fire breath. Frost breath. Force breath. Get the point? You use your voice to kill people. It's like when someone has a knife up their sleeve when you're playing poker and they draw it on you.. Except you have a flamethrower in your mouth! Yeah, nice job, Mr. Knife. Ha!

A lot of nice little small changes have happened too. Like voice acting. The guards share like 3 voices, but its better than what they used to do. Normal NPC's are very different, and you find that it gives the game a lot more range. There are a lot more easy-ish side quests. Your favorite guilds are back, and Shadowmere is one bad-ass horse. Yeah, there are dragons, too.

The two main quests revolve around the Civil war in Skyrim, and stopping the evil dragon Alduin. Alduin is the guy who just hates everything, but ironically saves you from being executed for whatever reason. He probably wouldn't save you again, seeing to the fact that its your job to literally eat his soul, but I won't give away too much for those of you who are slow at quests. The other revolves around the Imperial Legion and the Stormcloaks, who I have dubbed the "Shitcloaks." You can guess who I've sided with.

So when playing Skyrim I only have one problem with it: its addicting. Seriously, it was bad timing for it to come out right before finals, I had to really fight myself to study. But, finals are over, and I have another term to completely screw up! So, until then, I'll keep up on Virginia, for all of you out there playing along side me, power to you. Keep slaying dragons. I have more souls than I can keep up with finding words, but I'll get there.

--Santa

PS- FUS RO DAAAH

League of Legends: Updates, and Pirates

Okay, so I had to stop thinking about Skyrim for a bit, so I hopped onto my computer and started playing TF2 again. Yeah, I started trading again. But, I stopped after I got myself a Teddy's Roosebelt and Villian's Viel. Then I got back into League of Legends, like I always do.
It's the start of season 2.


Yeah, for all of you kids out there, you can win some major cash. Regional winners (From North America, Europe, and Asia) will get $1 million to split with their teamies. Oh yeah, the winners of the WORLD SERIES GET $2 MILLION. So, if you win both: thats $3 million for your team of 5, or $600,000 each. Yeah, and my mom always said I would get nothing by playing video games, except Type 2 diabetes. WELL WHAT NOW MOM? I COULD GET BOTH! Oh, wait, I forgot, I'm only somewhat good at videogames. Yeah, those really good guys will always win. Stupid Garens, always spinning and winning.


But, I've come to terms with my mediocraty. It makes me happy to know that they basically completely destroyed the jungle, making it useless. NO WARWICKS TO GRAB ME NOW. Well, that and I usually roll Gangplank, who they recently changed. He now has a very cutepirate dance. And a cuter beard. And no more feathers sticking out of his chest. It almost makes me sad that I bought the sailor skin for him. OH WAIT! NOW I'M A PIRATE WHO'S A SAILOR WHO DANCES. Its fantastic.So, to complete what else has happened for me with LoL is two important things:
I got Graves
I hit level 30
Yeah, I know I stated this earlier, but now I'm going to go into depth. Hitting level 30 with my other blogging friend, timmeh, and now I just roll around in ranked, loosing most games, pretty cool.
When I first played Graves, I knew it was love at first play. Let's list his pro's

• He's a ranged Carry, doing phyiscal damage
• He looks like Godmund, my D&D character
• He has a southern accent
• He's the equivalence of a ranged Gangplank

Yeah, life complete. Between him, GP, Heimerdinger, and Cho'Gath I'm complete. Well, I might buy Leona, I could use a good tank, but only time will tell. I also bought Anivia, but, yeah. Not thebest idea. A week later they lowered her price, and screwed me over. All I want is a cool skin for Graves, since I'm not really ready to spring onto hired gun, I can wait for a big boy skin thats legitimatley cool.


Well, until next time, Im going to keep playing LoL, and Skyrim.
Okay, and maybe Toontown
--Santa
PS- Full review of Skyrim coming sometime. It's going to be a long one.