SWTOR Scenery

{Fan Art Friday} Payroo

Before I launch into Spring break with my Doctor Who Queue and Mass Effect 2 fired up, it's Fan Art Friday! this is a piece I commissioned from Payroo, of my Lady Aeducan and her favorite assassin Zevran Aranai of the Dragon Age Origins universe. I love her style so much!


Commission - As the City Burns by ~PayRoo on deviantART

{Gaming- ME3 Multiplayer} In Memory Of…

I don’t usually brave multiplayer. I’m not good at it, I’m clumsy, uncoordinated, and easily frustrated. But when Bioware announced “Operation Tribute” I had to complete it. The goal was for each individual to get 50,000 points from the M-8 Assault Rifle and another 50,000 from Inferno Grenades. The preferred method of killing of that loveable badass merc Zaeed Massani. Who, if you didn’t know was voiced by the late , great, Robin Sachs who died on February 1, 2013.
Mass Effect fans will miss him, and his unique voice that MADE Zaeed Massani into a character we all loved. So for him, I braved multiplayer, and tried to be the Big Guddam Hero.

{Gaming- ME3} Citadel DLC!

Bioware announce last week that the final single player DLC is coming on March 5 for PC, PS3 and Xbox (March 6 for PS3 in Europe).  It’s focused on The Citadel. Of course there’s a mission to complete, but this is different than anything I’ve seen. Features include Shepard having an apartment on the citadel to furnish, casinos to try your luck in, and more time with your squadmates old and new. But they aren’t saying much on that subject. In fact, they are being teases as usual…

Lots of Citadel stuff we don't want to talk about yet...but, rest assured - the characters are a HUGE focus.

— Michael Gamble (@GambleMike) February 21, 2013

Mass Effect 3 is the most polarizing game I think I have ever seen. A portion of the fanbase loves it, with some annoyance at the endings, and another portion hates it, and even after the extended cut DLC are still demanding better endings, and will never forgive the day one DLC debacle.

I understand both sides. And both feelings are completely valid. I just happen to fall on the “Love it” side, well, since getting the Extended Cut release. Before that I was pretty annoyed with it. That’s why it bothers me so much that when Citadel was announced, anyone that was thrilled, was quickly told why they shouldn’t be, why it was trash, why it was worthless. Now, if I come across someone that hates ME3, I’m not going to waste my time and theirs trying to tell them why they should love it. I think that should work both ways. Don’t rain on my parade you know?

The biggest criticism though so far (not counting the “it’s not post game I don’t want it” and “if it doesn’t change the endings I don’t care” arguments) is the ability to furnish Shep’s apartment.  I find this exiting, I love that aspect of Skyrim, and The SIMS.  Every hero deserves a sweet place to call home. Apparently even the Bioware Staff enjoy it!

My favorite part of today's announcement: "Furnish Shepard’s own living quarters on the Citadel" HELLS TO THE YES! @masseffect #decorating

— Jessica Merizan (@JessicaMerizan) February 21, 2013

But the moist annoying criticism of this feature was… “it’s girly”.

Seriously? Men don’t enjoy this stuff?  That’s false. One look at Skyrim Nexus tells you that men enjoy improving, building, furnishing and perfecting their Skyrim abodes possibly as much as we women do. I personally find it relaxing during my study breaks.  Seriously guys, we have been begging for more time with Sheps companions outside of battle, something charactr based not just another mission where Shep saves the day. We finally got that. So let us enjoy it, and stop raining on our parade. We in return shall endeavor to not try and rain on yours.

{Gaming- Skyrim Mods} Making Your House a Home

I love having homes in Skyrim. One of the first things I do is pick a hold, and get a home. But Hearthfire DLC lets you build your own, even better! Or so I thought, until I built my fist one and found the limitations. Each side of the house has a strict set of options. The east wind can be an armory, kitchen, or library only. North wing can be storage room, alchemy, or trophy room only. The west wing can be bedroom, enchanting tower, or greenhouse only. Might I add that the bedroom is shared with your kids, awkward.

I always thought it silly that behind the main hall was a room full of storage, yet the option for expanding that area was also storage. It made that messy little room a bit silly. But I found a mod that solves that, as well as eliminating the need to build a kitchen on the east wing. Because I wanted a kitchen, but not on that wing. Then I found Shezrie’s Hearthfire Kitchens! Low and behold, a kitchen, nice and neatly organized, in an area that was previously wasted!

Perfect! Problem solved. You see, I wanted the wrap around landing on the second floor. The kitchen, and greenhouse, and towers don’t allow that. I wanted the bedroom for my character’s husband a herself. Not shared with the kids. So I set out to experiment. I built the bedroom wing, with no kids beds. I put the two single beds in the upstairs section of the great hall addition. And…it worked! My kids sleep in the beds, play in that room, etc. All it needed was two beds and a dresser. I had previously only found info saying you had to build the “child bed” specifically. Thankfully, not so. The kids sleep upstairs, on the opposite wall is my very large steward/nanny. Husband and Dragonborn downstairs.

My full house layout is West Wing- Bedroom, East Wing- Armory, North Wing- Storage. This gets the wrap around deck. But what about a library? I hoard books. My character is also the Guild Master of the Thieve’s Guild, a studying apprentice at Winterhold, and as such needs a study. All my houses currently have studies modded in. Well, someone made an alternative library for the hearthfire houses!  It is shockingly named “Alternative Hearthfire Libraries”

Now, that is a home. And if you’re curious, the mods that add studies to other playerhomes.

Hearthfire Proudspire Manor Upgrade adds a study below the kids room, and a wine room in the cellar. Also adds hearthfire food items throughout the house.

Honeyside Improvement this one adds a secret room to Honeyside in Riften, downstairs. In there is a desk and chair, bookshelves, display cases a safe, and mannequins. I love it.

To see all the mods I used for Honeyside as well you can see my Tumblr post here.

{Fan Art Friday} Dragon Age - Isabela

Dragon Age 2: Isabela by *Artshardz on deviantART

There aren't even words to describe how much I adore Isabela. She is one of the most well written and fleshed out characters in the Dragon Age universe. When we first meet her in Origins, she seems like just another NPC we can get something from. She teaches the Duelist specialization after a card game, and offers some *ahem* company. But come Dragon Age II we find out she is so much more.

She's courageous and independent, only trusts herself, has no loyalties, no commitments. Until Hawke enters the picture. But does she instantly adore and worship our hero? No. She flirts, she teases, but she is still her own woman. Yet aas the game goes on, she forms bonds. What starts as a dislike between her and Aveline, grows into a friendship. If Fenris isn't romanced by Hawke, He and Isabela get together. She nurtures and teaches Merril throughout the game (we only hear about it in dialog snippets). And in the end she becomes a true friend to Hawke.

It's a shame however, that so many people see her as just her image. She is so much more than that.

{Fan Art Friday!} Aria from Mass Effect 2 and 3

Aria T'loak - Afterlife by *ChrispyDee on deviantART

There's one rule on Omega.