I know you’re on tenterhooks on behalf of my kitten in Stray.
My son was visiting and he got the kitten through the Zurgs with ease.
I ran her forward a bit to make sure she was past a save game point. She’s back to making impossible jumps through the cityscape.
World of Warcraft HC
Pattipounder lives. My spouse decided to join me. Luckily I had a level 3 Paladin who would be a Blacksmith and make better armor for Patti. She was perfect for leveling with his mage.
We ran quests together for a bit, then because we’d be doing the murlocs next, I had a picture taken with Pattipounder. Nice Pounder Family Portrait, right?
Back out with Paladin #2, we ran into trouble with said murlocs.
We made it through this flight, but on the next bit Paladin #2 died, at level 8, to murlocs.
My spouse had almost all of his murloc fins, for a quest, so I brought out my level 7 tailor to help him finish.
He made it, then was done for the night. I can’t let my tailor die, so I created Paladin #3 and got her to level 7. She can move forward with LP, till he’s Pattipounder’s level (11) and off we go.
I had sufficient fun with Blaugust that I’ve pre-written a few things for September already. For me, writing every day makes it easier to write more often.
Though we will be on vacation for half of September, I’ve got ambitious gaming goals. I like that a few are really specific goals. Also that I will be continuing some of the games I first played in August.
You don’t see that acronym as often as you used to, do you? Crash to Desktop. There were no problems with LOTRO until about the second week of August. Suddenly, I log in, choose a realm, hit play. Boom.
I know it looks like I was logged in just yesterday. And I sorta was.
What has been happening is, I hit play, and CTD. No error, no nothing. Booted.
There is a tip sheet from Standing Stones saying what to do if this happens to you.
Nothing happens after clicking “Play” on the launcher.” OR “Game crashes after clicking play on the launcher.”
August 13, 2023 13:40
If you are encountering an issue where the game is crashing after you click the “Play” button on the launcher (just after you select the world you want to log into) please attempt the following:
Step One: (Windows) This can occasionally be related to the game trying to locate system files related to the Visual C++ installation and not finding them. As a test try downloading and installing C++ manually via the download here, (use the vcredist_x86.exe when given the option to choose what download) however if that installer fails with any error then open the ‘Uninstall a Program’ list in the control panel and in there look for all listings of “Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable”. Clicking on each in turn if you find one which lists in its details as being Version: 8.0.50727.762 then uninstall that and then repeat the attempt to install 10.0 SP1 from the vcredist_x86.exe file.
Step Two: (Windows) If you chose “Yes” when asked to enable DirectX 10 or 11 graphics and this began occurring soon thereafter please then perform the following:
– On the launcher prior to logging in with your username, click the button in the upper right that has the single down-arrow on it and choose Options – Under the repair tab, enable “Reset game display settings” and click Ok – Resume logging in but when asked if you want to enable DirectX 10 or 11 graphics mode, choose “No” as part of this test.
Step Three: (Windows/Mac) If you have not logged into the game in some time, or recently updated Windows or Mac OS; your graphics hardware (or drivers) or any other hardware components, try these steps before launching the game:
– Open your “Documents” folder (Mac users will need to open Finder to open Documents) and look for either the “The Lord of the Rings Online” folder or “Dungeons and Dragons Online” (depending on which game you play) – Once found right-click on that folder and choose rename and rename it to either “OLDThe Lord of the Rings Online” or “OLDDungeons and Dragons Online” – Restart the game at this point (again if on Windows and asked to enable DirectX 10 or 11 graphics choose no as part of this test)
Additional Steps for Windows systems:
If you open the “Uninstall a Program” option in the Control Panel and find any of the applications in the list below, they may be causing the crash. You can typically test this by temporarily uninstalling them, rebooting once removed and then running the game just once without them to see if the crash no longer occurs.
AMD Gaming Evolved Raptr ASUS GamerOSD Razer Game Booster
If you are still crashing on Windows, ensure that you have installed DirectX 9.0c (required even on systems that have DirectX 10 or 11 as they are separate installs that use separate system files). https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8109 (The installer file from there is a self extraction file, when you run it, it will ask you to give a name to the folder it will copy the installation files into. Once it does that then open that folder and run the ‘setup.exe’ file inside of it to perform the install.)
If you attempt any of these tweaks, you’re out. If you try to use Direct X 10 or above, you don’t even get in, just back to insta CTD.
My programmer/systems analyst spouse may be able to look at all this and fix it. There’s my motive for this post, aside from simply having a post. It could work!
In truth I’ve been buying a home in each area of the game where I’m working, and I buy them furnished, these days. I have the massive Mathiesen Manor in Auridon to thank for that. It’s a massive place that needs a lot of work. Room upon bare room.
My main crafter gets all of the recipes for furnishings, and she’s the one to go around placing the furnishings she makes. Amazingly, I just found out that you can buy furniture from the Crown Store right from the home editor. Then Plink, it’s in your home.
My characters spend a great deal more time in inn rooms than in my homes because of their placement in cities. Finally I’m decorating them with some basic decor.
Here’s a frequent stop, the Mara’s Kiss Public House in Auridon with previous and new decor.
Old.
New. Needs more little details. A 30 item limit for this room.
One of my favorite inn rooms is the Rosy Lion in Glenumbra.
Except for the chair I just purchased from the Crown Store, these are all items crafted by my Khajiit. I tend to love making rugs and lights above all things. I can make quite a few beds now, and also rugs. The two most important decorating items for your home and hovel.
Here we are in the final week of Blaugust! Yay!!! It’s officially Lessons Learned Week, and you may not have noticed, but I followed none of the themes this year. I’m just out here as I am in real life, la la la la, in my own head, doing what suits me next.
I did in fact learn some lessons about what kinds of games may sound good, but which will I actually play?
I love mysteries, but even when I read books, I’m a complete fish and whenever the author points to this suspect or that, I jump to the new shiny suspect. I think mysteries translate well to games when they tell a story as well as offer clues. The plot is always the thing.
I also prefer science fiction stories in games, and think that they are a natural fit for game worlds and stories. Science fiction games that immerse you in their worlds and present a character you want to be are the best.
Horror is a tough one. I’m drawn to them, then I’m afraid to play them. I tend in the Steam store to look for games tagged “Story Rich”. If a horror game has that element, I’m more likely to advance.
EZ Street for me this week means super light posts for Monday and Tuesday when I won’t be home. Wednesday I slide in my August Game Goals achieved, and my goals for September gaming. Thursday is a Blaugust Wrapup post. As my spouse would say, nothing to see here!
Inside the house, the lady of the manor is rude and uncooperative. She’s locked up the maid Florette, whom she accuses of theft and will not release her. Poirot seems able to ignore her annoyances and he heads upstairs. Popping right into the scene of the crime, a daughter’s bedroom, he looks all around for clues and finds plenty.
The investigation has opened a new Mindmap, and I’ve cleverly made a single connection so far.
Fallout New Vegas
I did the smallest bit of exploration since the last outing, heading towards a town named Primm.
It’s outstanding feature is a roller coaster in it’s midst.
I’m pretty sure I’m going to re-start this character as I don’t like how she’s playing. Ya, ya, I know, it’s not her fault. The real killer is I sold her Bobby Pins, which she uses for safe cracking and other crimes. Did not recall that was the use of them.
Stray
Tried three times to run past the Zurgs and thought I was doing well but was suddenly overwhelmed. I’d be stuck and unable to move on if my son wasn’t visiting tomorrow. He will get my kitten past the Zurgs.
Vanishing of Ethan Carter
I wasn’t able to get the Vanishing of Ethan Carter to load tonight for another look, Here’s the great little train from the game you get to drive briefly.
World of Warcraft Hardcore Classic
It felt like it took forever, but I got to level ten and Pattipounder lives. I had to run a few times from murlocs. Avoiding Goldtooth, Princess and Hogger till they are over leveled and easy to kill.
Picked up Alchemy and Herbalism. A bit dicey because there’s always something hanging out by the resources that you want.
While working the murlocs, some Warrior comes running up and and shouts ARE YOU A MAN? Then he pops up an invite to a Duel to the Death. Weirdo. I simply declined but of course “hose off” was my real reaction.
Still kicking. Going Retribution Paladin of course.
I thought I should try out the Hardcore Classic realm to see how long I’d last. I wanted a character with a self heal, as my number one choice. I chose the foolish name because I thought I’d die right off. Still pounding!
Thinking of the different starter areas, Elwynn Forest has the least really deadly spots. The wisdom is stay out of caves. Too close quarters if a quick respawn happens. Which they do. Avoid murlocs, as always.
I will be picking up Alchemy. My Paladin heals are great, until I’m fighting something three levels over my head, using Holy Light to stay alive, my mana was soon poofed. Just barely made it.
Unusually, I joined a guild, and they seem like a really good one. When someone in the Guild dies, a line of red text in chat says who died, where, and what killed them. Everyone’s always horrified.
I started late and played for several hours and ended up at level 8. Working the quests at the Eastvale Logging Camp which are level 10 quests. Still alive.
There’s a real camaraderie, I encourage anyone who likes the game to try it out.
When I logged out for the night, the highest level person was a 12. Best of luck, everyone.
Following a series of visual clues, you begin to find out why Ethan wrote a fan letter to Paul Prospero, who comes to find and help Ethan.
You’ve considerable freedom of movement and can wander. The story takes place along the railroad tracks, however. Once you’ve examined all the clues, you see scenes from the past. Putting these together reveals the events.
Once I see this poor kid and the disturbed adults surrounding him, my mom instincts kick right in and I hope we can find and help Ethan get away from this place.
Which leads to the traffic light in the forest.
And the Spaceman!! You must follow him through the forest.
There’s a turn you’d never see coming.
Ethan has quite an imagination and writes lots of stories, none of which seem to be appreciated by his family.
I stopped after the Spaceman sequence. There are only auto saves, so I’m not sure where I’ll pick up the story again.
Definitely a mystery, and a grisly one at that, but intriguing. Gotta save the little guy.
Some people like cats or they like dogs. I like both. Stray features a brave little cat who can follow the lead of other cats, or signs and arrows pointing his way. He’s soooo cute.
In the case of this game, keyboard and mouse are fine. So far no oddities with the controls.
Here are our little kitten pals, dozing.
Then it’s time to run and jump and play. All goes well till there’s a big jump to a large pipe section.
The pipe breaks as he lands! Noooooo kitten!
He slides and tumbles all the way down. There he lays, injured.
His friends call down to him.
He’s ok, though, he limps a bit, but gets up and explores his new surroundings.
From here, lots more interesting and completely makeable jumps. This is a first for me, easily making jumps.
It appears someone is looking out for the little cat.
Things were going so well. Then these little things which had been scuttling about in previous scenes are suddenly massed.
Our kitten doesn’t like them.
You’re supposed to use Left Shift to run, and that works, but also Left Alt which seemed to have no effect, except our brave little guy is dead. Honestly, if I have to fight something, I want to know how to do it before the fight actually begins. We do NOT kill innocent kittens who have already been through enough today.
You’re a courier whose last job went bad, and you’re executed by a guy in an ugly suit. Luckily for you, a robot was in the area and he saved you.
He brings you to the town doc who brings you back easily even though you were shot in the head. He got all those nasty bits out, no problem.
The doc runs you through a few diagnostic tests which are your character appearance and stats and skills. I went heavy on Strength, as I do, also tossing in skills with both guns and melee.
I did all of the tutorial bits, because I’m a lousy shot. From there a side quest to gather flowers to make a medicine. Bah, I need to look up the lock picking mechanic, because I wasn’t able to open a safe, I just snapped a couple of lock picks.
Why’d it have to be bugs? Your initial enemies are giant gnats and some Bloat Flies.
I think I should have tried to run away from the scorpion that was next, as he damaged my health quite a bit, and seemed to poison me. The screen kept flashing out of focus.
Onward to what I’m guessing is the main quest, with some bad guys threatening the waitress at the Saloon. Enjoying the game. Need a far better weapon than a straight razor. Or my puny gun.
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