New Vid'ya Card

So, thanks to the generosity of friends and family this holiday season, I was able to accumulate enough gift cards to NewEgg to allow an upgrade for my video card. Here's the result...



Link below:
Sapphire Radeon HD 5770

Tom's Hardware and several other sites have reviewed it favorably. The things that hooked me on it were its modest size (not a behemoth like several of the other cards) and its energy-efficiency. A side benefit of that is my current power supply should have plenty of juice to run the new card. Some of the nVidia offerings, in addition to being freaking huge, required some hefty power inputs (some having dual 6-pin VGA power connectors). The 5000 series Radeons really seemed to offer the best mix at the price point. Oh, and they are DX11 compatible for later on (that requires Windows 7, though)).

All in all, not a bad option.

I attempted some performance scaling based off the graphics benchmarks charts on Tom's Hardware. For example, based on the Fallout3 FRAPS demo at the resolution I run on my computer (1680x1050):

Fallout 3 - 1680x1050, 4AA, 8AF, low quality
7900GS (256Mb) -> 38.5 FPS
8800GTS (320Mb) -> 100.6 FPS

Fallout 3 - 1680x1050, 4AA, 8AF, very high quality
8800GTS (320Mb) -> 17.5 FPS
5770 (1024Mb) -> 68.40 FPS

Granted, there are probably some CPU/memory/etc. differences between the two test runs in addition to the change in quality levels, but if I just look at the scaling...

8800GTS = 2.61X performance compared to 7900GS
5770 = 3.91X performance compared to 8800GTS

The product of the two is (2.61) x (3.91) = 10.2X, which means a Radeon HD 5770 (a current "low to mid range gaming card") has approximately ten times better performance than my current card. Granted, real-world scaling probably will have it running perhaps 4-6X performance, but still... Damn.

Also, the new MMO's (STO, The Old Republic, CoH: Going Rogue, etc.) all have updated graphics engines that I am pretty sure will bring my current card to its knees on anything approaching middle to higher levels of detail. We'll see how it turns out, as the Catalyst drivers for the Radeon HD 5000 series are notoriously cranky.
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Rathskeller: The I.D. Badge Backstory

Mutation Radiation Blaster / Enery Manipulator

It wasn't an alehouse in the traditional sense. Sure there was a questionable liquor license that faded in and out of existence on the regular, Guinness on tap, and a mug-centered superstition that the locals had cooked up about a haunted glass; but frequenters of The Bull Thistle Rathskeller came for the peppers and sauce. Old man Pappitt, the owner, grew one-of-a-kind chili peppers out back, making his ramshackle, dirt road, bar and grill a popular Mecca among none-too-hoity jalapeno enthusiasts. Impromptu pepper eating contests had become a bankable, daily occurrence and three generations of Pappitts came up working the hot sauce station at the end of the counter. The youngest was kept on as a bartender later and he did that well enough, but Ames Pappitt longed for a different Guinness. He dreamed of being the first person in history to devise a billion Scoville Unit sauce, a sauce that even feral Paragon fire imps would run and hide from. He never expected his attempts would go nuclear.
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Scintillus: The I.D. Badge Backstory

Kheldian Warshade (Level Pact w/Voyageur)

My thumb, as you call it, is both a tranfigurant and a transubstantiant, no more or less important to evolution than the sweet tooth or riverwashed dung. That you should ascribe it such high regard for opposing is to belittle the claw, the pseudopod, the articulated tentacle, and the many indescribable Kheldian lessons there are to be learned when one is pressed between forms. For in that space between states, escaping all lingual description, there are infinitive means through which to throw a simple lever or to simultaneously turn both keys in your arsenal. I ally with you as your protection, protection against your greatest hidden enemy, the psychological pitfall that is the oft touted belief in your thumb. This belief is predicated upon the rogue idea that, as a digit, it is functionally unique and that therefore everything human society has since created with it is similarly impressive. Such is fiction.
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Thane of Wounds: The I.D. Badge Backstory

Kheldian Peacebringer

Ours was a coenobitic enclave of pure Kheldian energies cloistered over an iron and ice comet we called Claeactal, circling the remote dead star Dapsturg. That's how far we had to go to remain free of it. I don't think you understand the draw to conjoin with humans. When both are present, when both are weak, it's almost involuntary, even feeling forced. You've humans free of Kheldian influence a world over. Their masteries and collective intellect pull the understanding of these hybridizations well toward hominid measure. All we sought was balance, Kheldians free of the mix to offer a greater, even opposing understanding of the dipods. Rikti may be your focus now, but our galaxy is oft traversed with xenophiles who've sampled Terran protein chains. The risk required seclusion. Who'd have thought compromised samples lay entombed at our comet's core? Of the enclave, nothing remains.
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Rimfire

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Chatting with a RedName

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Halftrack Part III

So, in my continuing quest to develop Halftrack, I wanted to create a 21st century equivalent costume for him. One both to give a more "modern" feel, but also as a contrast to the 1940's vintage "iron soldier" costume. I also was able to make use of the Cyborg HUD combat display to add some extra depth to the costume. It mirrors closely the color palette that I used for the tech shield, particularly the energy/forcefield section of it. All colors in the costume are on the olive drab/brown theme and blend consistently.

All three costume options have a macro with phrase attached to the costume activation:
Costume one is "Deactivating Hardsuit".
Costume two is "Activating Hardsuit Mk I".
Costume three is "Activating Hardsuit Mk II".

Additionally, I picked up as a merit reward an Unbounded Leap +Stealth recipe. I cashed in my veteran reward for the additional prestige sprints and picked one to slot the IO in. I now have a macro for that sprint as well that says "Engaging Active Camouflage". The stealth aspect is nearly useless for a Tank, particularly with the taunt aura, but I did want it to go with the new tech costume. It just fits for me, and fleshes out the character in more detail.











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Halftrack Part II

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Rathskeller

Also an outgrowth of post-surgery Codeine and black holes in my memory, I give you the very "should be in a parade" look of Rathskeller! He's a radiation, energy manipulation blaster, (thank you powerset proliferation for giving me something to try that Garthamatic may not have mastered yet) whom, much like The Thane of Wounds, I have no recollection of creating or playing. Judging by his level, he's newer, a major lowbie at this point. I've no backstory yet, but looking forward to the challenge of creating one after-the-fact. I also look forward to the challenge of NOT using the very obvious "yellow cake uranium" plot line his look screams for. Again, though I do not recall doing it, he's also my very first toon with changed colors on powers.

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Scintillus

The Dr. Manhattan-like Scintillus was created during uninterrupted mental health, pre-peritonsular abscess, as a new toon to play with Garthamatic whilst Orleans was on hiatus. While I think both Garthamatic and I are disappointed at his initial costume being my first cop, for time's sake, to a standard duds set, the backstory was fun, he is fun to play (my first squidy), and his leveling pact with Voyaguer (my first) has been real interesting. In the design page he skewed more green than the blue he shows in game, but that's neither here nor there. Garth's advice about "if choosing between a Warshade and a Peacebringer for the first time, go with the Warshade," has definitely held up as good advice now that I have two toons to compare, if for no other reason than the comparatively lesser marketing needs of the Warshade.

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The Thane of Wounds

There he is, The Thane of Wounds, Peacebringer. Wolvensense on medication is baaaaaddd!! I've no recollection of creating him or playing him, but somehow he's at level 11 and has the badge for teaming against and defeating Eochai. I like that the alien skull reflects light, how the Peacebringer powers give him those "Sunstorm" eyes on a skull that has no eyes, and the early flight power...all learned as I logged in to take these shots. Creating a backstory to justify him after-the-fact, has been fun. I'd like to write more.

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Halftrack

Bio is a rough first pass to get some thoughts down on his background and such. I need to rework it, as the first part doesn't really support the character hook well and it's missing a critical element. Specifically, that he's opted for a "retro" representation from WWII to try and serve as a symbol to the public of what we have lost... Specifically the common national unity and sense of pride that we felt in that era. A reminder that what was, can be again, particularly in these troubled times. I need to do some edits to get it condensed to capture that, as the character limit for the field really enforces brevity.
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2.8B on Triumph

Tallied up my liquid influence across the characters today in the process of cleaning the auction items out and posting new IOs for sale... Total is just over 2.8 billion influence across my main characters. Probably slightly more once the minor ones get tallied in. I have about 340M in IOs currently out on the market, so in about a week or so I should be over the 3B mark. Not bad for a side activity in the game...
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Number 11

Pushed Yardstick over the goal line tonight. Very solid Scrapper, and one I'll be happy to continue playing from time to time. Fun ride, to say the least.


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Amongst the Clones...

Took this just after hitting 40. Last mission in the Gordon Bower arc out of Brickstown. Lots of good stuff, and hard as well. Those Paragon Protector Elites really can mess up your day.


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Yardstick

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Grognar passes the goal line

Shots from the LGTF:









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Saving States...

Guy has got to "Man-Up" and stop getting his ass imprisoned...


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Grognar Ascendant...

Yep, been spending some time fleshing out Big Green (as my team mates call him). He's currently level 46 and pretty well locked and loaded for the rest of his ride to 50. Energy/Negative Energy defense is soft-capped at a hair over 46%, he's got absolutely massive regeneration with the Willpower set, Health, Numina's Unique, IO set bonuses, and the Regenerative Tissue Unique. Melee defense is at a hair under 20%, but respectable. Coupled with the survivability he drags with him, he's no slouch with damage output, chaining choice Dual Blades combos and powers together to boost damage and throw out some serious carnage. Endurance is a non-issue, which enabled me to stack heavy in attacks for Recharge, critical for getting the most out of the Dual Blades set, IMHO.

Recently, I solo'd a level 51 Rikti Heavy Suit (a +5 Elite Boss) with him and other than just taking a while to grind his ass down, it was no problem at all.

Here's some screenshots:


Grognar vs. Heavy Suit


Grognar vs. Freakshow


Original Costume (Valkyrie Blades)


Recent Costume (Red Cap Daggers)


Latest Costume (Rularuu's Fangs)

I really like the Red-Cap Dagger equipped costume. Gives him a very "brawler" feel and image in fights.

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Staredown Busts out the 5-0

Thanks to Rob for sharing the Ding! for double XP.


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Some Screenshots of Late...

"What foul abominations are these..."


"The ladies all loooove the armor..."


'The cusp of Hamidon..."


"In the lair of the Clockwork King..."


"Hangin with Nikola Tesla..."


"Trading Spaces: The Captain Mako edition..."


"Defiance..."

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Patination hits 50!

Yep, after a very fun ride filled with lots of education about how the hell to play a squishy Blaster, I finally leveled Pat up to 50. He's currently sitting on 45.24% Ranged Defense, global 57% accuracy bonus, and 40% global recharge (when Hasten is down). Recovery is solid and I can go non-stop with AoEs and single-target even in AV fights by de-toggling Tough and World of Confusion. Insane Blaster damage coupled with soft-capped Ranged Defense = monster on wheels, gentlemen. Very impressive end-product.



In case you were wondering, that's zero to fifty in two months, 12 days.
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