Merry Christmas to all my readers and KingsIsle! I hope you all have an amazing holiday! Enjoy this Christmas card from Vaden & I :)
Aren't my editing skills fabulous? Have a great day! See you around the Spiral!
-Cheyenne Caster
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Sunday, December 25, 2016
Thursday, December 22, 2016
Top 5 Most Interesting Worlds of the Spiral (Wizard101)
Wizard101 worlds are so intriguing. The storyline is complex, the scenery is gorgeous, and the experience is often memorable. I picked 5 worlds with an amazing plot, breathtaking scenery, and unforgettable characters.
5. Zafaria
Having a jungle themed world in the Spiral adds so much character. Its fun atmosphere under a beating hot sun is an excellent combination. The scenery is really pretty. The characters and plot are one of the best in the game.
The world itself is actually pretty uplifting. Despite the semi-dark plot, everything about Zafaria seems happy. The characters don't seem to be at a loss of will. In fact, they are all pretty wise and calm in such a turbulent situation. Zafaria boasts some of the most breathtaking areas in the game. Jungles, savannahs, waterfalls, graveyards, mountains- all thoroughly represented in one world. Zafaria is just so diverse and really fun to play through!
Apart from its awesome scenery and story line, Zafaria has some of the coolest cut scenes in the game. It really immerses you in what's going on. My favorite is all the cut scenes in Mirror Lake. It makes the long dungeon seem more interactive and overall worth coming back to.
Even the gear in Zafaria is super cool. The wands, rings, athames, and amulets make you feel like you're actually a tribal leader. (Combined with Azteca gear= Tribal God!) Plus, The Lion King fans would love this world. So what's not to love? Pat on the back to KingsIsle for making an excellent world!
4. Grizzleheim (and Wintertusk)
I may be a little biased, but Grizzleheim is super interesting. Viking culture and mythology is presented in a unique way. The scenery is as refreshing as the music in the background.
Grizzleheim is a beautiful world. The airy forests, the flowing streams, the towering glaciers- all breathtaking. I think it even sports the best waterfalls in the game! There's just something about each part of Grizzleheim that is gorgeous. I really like Vigrid Roughland, Nidavellir, and Vestrilund. Nidavellir is so intricate and I wish there was more to that part of Grizzleheim. It kind of feels a little homey.
You can often see a great representation of Viking life in Grizzleheim. From camps and shop owners to warriors and fisherman, the game immerses you into a Nordic lifestyle. It's too bad Grizzleheim is a side world and isn't as a developed story as others are.
Wintertusk has the best music in the game. It's soothing and sounds like a musical score for a major motion picture. I think each one perfectly captures the mood of it's corresponding area. I love listening to Wintertusk music whenever I need to focus. My favorites are Nordrilund and Austrilund music. KingsIsle (Nick Jonas) did an incredible job on it!
3. Marleybone
Marleybone is a world that everyone has either mixed feelings about or compete hatred for. It was likely the first world to begin making people quit the game. It was frustrating, hard, and long. But despite all these negatives, it's actually a very interesting world.
If you remember one thing from Marleybone, it's probably all the battles you got pulled into while on the rooftops. It seemed like you couldn't even travel 5 seconds to get a health wisp before getting pulled in. (5 Seconds of Freedom, am I right?) However, it was cool to be on top of the buildings, instead of walking past them. Our wizards fought a gang...and won. That alone is pretty impressive.
What I really enjoyed is the night time city feel. If you think about it, your wizard literally had a night life while playing through Marleybone. The fact that there's a modern world in the Spiral makes the game a little more relatable. Not to mention, the sky is so so so gorgeous. Marleybone even has tasteful outfits to go along with such a sophisticated atmosphere.
Even cooler yet was all the real life places, such as Barkingham Palace. Meeting the Queen was an excellent experience! The Royal Museum is so interesting that I wish it was more interactive, just like a real museum.
2. Aquila
Yes, it's technically an expansion dungeon zone, not a world. Aquila feels like its own world, though. Everything about it is so cool! It's a Greek themed world with a ton of references to mythology. In fact, the whole thing is basically interactive mythology.
The Greek theme is just so awesome. It's so cool to play with and against The Olympians in such iconic locations. Mount Olympus was pretty, but Tartarus was intricately detailed. Playing through the domains of the Big Three has got to be one of the most memorable experiences in the game!
The zone is so awesome to look at! It's unique, attractive and picturesque all in a small area. I really wish it was its own world, because there's so much to work with. (Pirate101 did a great job doing that.) Everything about Aquila is resplendent. It's truly astounding experience to play and explore through Aquila.
1. Avalon
Avalon is just one of those worlds that is all around magnificent. The plot, frequently referencing the tales of King Arthur and Camelot, is really interesting. Many of the NPCs, creatures, and locations reference these stories.
The world itself is gorgeous. The Wyrd is my favorite area. The Wild, Dun Dara, and Tomb of the Nameless all connect there. Everything is a little dark, but it's beautiful in its own way. On the happier side of town, the music for Abbey Road is awesome! Caer Lyon and Keep of Ganelon is really fun to explore. Lakeshore, though raining all the time, is also awesome. Avalon is a really cool world to simply explore.
The NPCs and creatures are very interesting. Many of them are warriors trying to regain lost honor. I think it is actually humbling for our wizards to get to help King Artorius. One of the interesting things I found is that Uther Pendragon (King Arthur's father) is portrayed as the Pendragon, a tough boss to beat.
Honorable Mentions
Azteca
Krokotopia
Polaris
What's your top 5 most interesting worlds of the Spiral? Do you agree or disagree with mine?
5. Zafaria
Having a jungle themed world in the Spiral adds so much character. Its fun atmosphere under a beating hot sun is an excellent combination. The scenery is really pretty. The characters and plot are one of the best in the game.
The world itself is actually pretty uplifting. Despite the semi-dark plot, everything about Zafaria seems happy. The characters don't seem to be at a loss of will. In fact, they are all pretty wise and calm in such a turbulent situation. Zafaria boasts some of the most breathtaking areas in the game. Jungles, savannahs, waterfalls, graveyards, mountains- all thoroughly represented in one world. Zafaria is just so diverse and really fun to play through!
Image via Wizard101.com |
Even the gear in Zafaria is super cool. The wands, rings, athames, and amulets make you feel like you're actually a tribal leader. (Combined with Azteca gear= Tribal God!) Plus, The Lion King fans would love this world. So what's not to love? Pat on the back to KingsIsle for making an excellent world!
4. Grizzleheim (and Wintertusk)
I may be a little biased, but Grizzleheim is super interesting. Viking culture and mythology is presented in a unique way. The scenery is as refreshing as the music in the background.
Grizzleheim is a beautiful world. The airy forests, the flowing streams, the towering glaciers- all breathtaking. I think it even sports the best waterfalls in the game! There's just something about each part of Grizzleheim that is gorgeous. I really like Vigrid Roughland, Nidavellir, and Vestrilund. Nidavellir is so intricate and I wish there was more to that part of Grizzleheim. It kind of feels a little homey.
Wintertusk has the best music in the game. It's soothing and sounds like a musical score for a major motion picture. I think each one perfectly captures the mood of it's corresponding area. I love listening to Wintertusk music whenever I need to focus. My favorites are Nordrilund and Austrilund music. KingsIsle (Nick Jonas) did an incredible job on it!
3. Marleybone
Marleybone is a world that everyone has either mixed feelings about or compete hatred for. It was likely the first world to begin making people quit the game. It was frustrating, hard, and long. But despite all these negatives, it's actually a very interesting world.
If you remember one thing from Marleybone, it's probably all the battles you got pulled into while on the rooftops. It seemed like you couldn't even travel 5 seconds to get a health wisp before getting pulled in. (5 Seconds of Freedom, am I right?) However, it was cool to be on top of the buildings, instead of walking past them. Our wizards fought a gang...and won. That alone is pretty impressive.
What I really enjoyed is the night time city feel. If you think about it, your wizard literally had a night life while playing through Marleybone. The fact that there's a modern world in the Spiral makes the game a little more relatable. Not to mention, the sky is so so so gorgeous. Marleybone even has tasteful outfits to go along with such a sophisticated atmosphere.
Even cooler yet was all the real life places, such as Barkingham Palace. Meeting the Queen was an excellent experience! The Royal Museum is so interesting that I wish it was more interactive, just like a real museum.
2. Aquila
Yes, it's technically an expansion dungeon zone, not a world. Aquila feels like its own world, though. Everything about it is so cool! It's a Greek themed world with a ton of references to mythology. In fact, the whole thing is basically interactive mythology.
The Greek theme is just so awesome. It's so cool to play with and against The Olympians in such iconic locations. Mount Olympus was pretty, but Tartarus was intricately detailed. Playing through the domains of the Big Three has got to be one of the most memorable experiences in the game!
The zone is so awesome to look at! It's unique, attractive and picturesque all in a small area. I really wish it was its own world, because there's so much to work with. (Pirate101 did a great job doing that.) Everything about Aquila is resplendent. It's truly astounding experience to play and explore through Aquila.
1. Avalon
Avalon is just one of those worlds that is all around magnificent. The plot, frequently referencing the tales of King Arthur and Camelot, is really interesting. Many of the NPCs, creatures, and locations reference these stories.
The world itself is gorgeous. The Wyrd is my favorite area. The Wild, Dun Dara, and Tomb of the Nameless all connect there. Everything is a little dark, but it's beautiful in its own way. On the happier side of town, the music for Abbey Road is awesome! Caer Lyon and Keep of Ganelon is really fun to explore. Lakeshore, though raining all the time, is also awesome. Avalon is a really cool world to simply explore.
The NPCs and creatures are very interesting. Many of them are warriors trying to regain lost honor. I think it is actually humbling for our wizards to get to help King Artorius. One of the interesting things I found is that Uther Pendragon (King Arthur's father) is portrayed as the Pendragon, a tough boss to beat.
Honorable Mentions
Azteca
Krokotopia
Polaris
What's your top 5 most interesting worlds of the Spiral? Do you agree or disagree with mine?
Monday, November 21, 2016
New Mirage Raider's Bundle
The shifting sands of Mirage can be quite fatiguing. Not all wizards can handle walking in a scorching desert. Luckily, Wizard101's newest bundle can help you conquer Mirage quickly!
Introducing the Mirage Raider's Bundle for Wizard101! This bundle is available at GameStop for $39. Along with tons of cool items, you can get your choice of 1 month of membership or 5,000 crowns. Click here to find a GameStop location near you.
Level 120 Gear is now available for your wizard to redeem.
Mirage Raider's Bundle
The Mirage Raider's Bundle includes:
Introducing the Mirage Raider's Bundle for Wizard101! This bundle is available at GameStop for $39. Along with tons of cool items, you can get your choice of 1 month of membership or 5,000 crowns. Click here to find a GameStop location near you.
Level 120 Gear is now available for your wizard to redeem.
Mirage Raider's Bundle
The Mirage Raider's Bundle includes:
- Nomad Camp house
- Desert Racer mount
- Sultan's Monkey pet
- Mirage Dunerunner's Gear
- Desert Lodestar Staff
- 1 month or 5,000 crowns
- Additional Castle Elixir
Nomad Camp house
The Nomad Camp house is beautifully designed. It truly feels like you are living in a desert. If you
Image from Duelist101 |
like fishing, you're in luck because this house has fish in it! You can catch Bone Fish, Chameleon Fish, Fall Foliage Fish, Pharaohmari, Qismah Doodlefish, and Sun Ray in this house. The house also has a PvP practice arena and merchants to get daily rewards from.
Desert Racer mount
The Desert Racer mount is a single person mount. It gives a normal speed boost. It's very unique and powerful-looking in appearance. I personally think the color scheme is kind of cool. It looks like Wizard101's take of a Griffin, but it could be something else.
Sultan's Monkey
The Sultan's Monkey pet is a 64 pedigree Balance pet. It takes 5 minutes to hatch, and can be received from a hatch. Its talents are great for adding to a talent pool. The Sultan's Monkey has a talent for each school, and does not have any selfish talents. See Wizard101 Central for more details.
Gear
Mirage Dunerunner's Gear and Desert Lodestar have stats that are typical of any other bundle. The gear could be used as temporary items until a better piece can be used. The robe, however, has plenty of health, resist, and block, making it a potential rival to Jade gear. The Desert Lodestar staff is gorgeous. Though it's stats aren't particularly great, plenty of great outfits can be based off it. This wand is worth stitching.
Overall. I think this bundle is super cool, especially if your favorite world is Mirage. The gear is great as a filler or supplementary piece, and the pet can act as a source of talents for breeders. This bundle seems like it can pay for itself through fishing and rewards.
What do you think of the bundle?
Friday, November 11, 2016
Mirage Test Realm 2016
After about a month of teasers, the Mirage Test Realm is now up! A new world, new stats, new quests, new hobbies, and so much more is jam packed into this update!
Mirage
Step into Mirage, a world of shifting sands and shifting allegiances, where ancient treasures and ancient dangers were buried in the hope they might never again see the light of day.
Explore vast dune deserts punctuated by treacherous canyons and jungle rifts where the ancient House Qhats have retreated into their garden sanctuaries, abandoning the Dromel nomads to the wastes above and the ravages of the Winds of Change.
Walk the streets of Aggrobah, the so-called City of Thieves, where a charming but ineffective King has allowed crime lords like the notorious Ali Baboon to run amok.
Negotiate with mysterious Djinn to build an alliance between the world’s warring factions.
Battle alongside the ancient order of the Chronomancers who maintain the sacred Sands of Time.
Meet a cast of eccentric characters. Join them, and your friends, to expose the machinations of Grandfather Spider and his shadowy minions before their dark schemes lead to a catastrophic conclusion.
Level Up!
When Mirage goes live, the new level cap will be 120! Along with the level cap increase, wizards level 111-120 will be able to have a maximum of 475,000 gold! Level 120 PvP gear and henchmen are also now available.
Players who complete the quest "Trial of the Understudy" will own a brand new apartment in the Arcanum! This 2-tiered castle comes with an additional castle elixir, so even if you have 3 or more houses, you can still equip it!
Level 118 Spells
If you are level 118, be sure to finish the quest "History of the Cabal" to gain access to your new spell! These new spells introduce a new spell concept: divide damage! Simply select the spell, then click on the targets you wish to hit. Choose 1,2,3, or 4!
Legendary Weapons
If you’ve completed the quest “Gemstone Secrets” from Polaris and “Stop! HammerTail” from Khrysalis and are currently a Promethean Crafter, you’ll gain a new quest from Librarian Fitzhume to discuss the Forge of Legends in the Arcanum with Ignus Ferric. Ignus will then sell you recipes so you can begin crafting Legendary Weapons.
Faction Vendors
There are new “faction” vendors in Mirage. This is a new type of vendor who only sells you items when you unlock a special badge associated with them. When you encounter these vendors throughout Mirage, do not be surprised when they offer you a quest to get you started. Unique (and hard-earned) treasures can be purchased from them when you earn a faction vendor’s respect!
You can even purchase a new apartment from a faction vendor. The apartment exits to your faction’s area of Mirage. (Remember, unlike your dorm room or Arcanum apartment, you will need to purchase an additional Castle Elixir if your housing limit is at max and you would like to purchase a new apartment from your faction’s vendor.)
Castle Magic
Ready to take castle decorating to a whole new level? To get started, head over to Regents Square in Marleybone and find Babbage Basset. Start the quest "Strange Charms" and begin your adventure learning castle magic with your Castle Magic Help Tome. After you have been well trained, you will be able to buy Castle Magic items from Babbage, such as treasure cards!
You'll be able to make items appear, animate, and react to your visitor's actions and locations. The creativity is endless! You can even make puzzles similar to those in early Wizard101 dungeons!
Pip Conversion
The newest stat in Wizard101 is pip conversion. This stat is found on amulets, decks, and wands from Mirage! This passive statistic can turn single pips into power pips or refund a pip back!
The first way to get a pip is by casting a spell that uses more pips then the actual value. For example, casting Phoenix, a 5 pip spell, requires 3 power pips, which is equivalent to 6 pips. Pip Conversion will occasionally refund a single pip back to you.
The second way is to get a power pip through a fully stacked 7 pip count. Again, pip conversion will occasionally replace a single pip with a power pip. It is based on your highest pip conversion stat. The higher the stat, the higher the chance.
When Mirage goes live, the new level cap will be 120! Along with the level cap increase, wizards level 111-120 will be able to have a maximum of 475,000 gold! Level 120 PvP gear and henchmen are also now available.
Players who complete the quest "Trial of the Understudy" will own a brand new apartment in the Arcanum! This 2-tiered castle comes with an additional castle elixir, so even if you have 3 or more houses, you can still equip it!
Level 118 Spells
If you are level 118, be sure to finish the quest "History of the Cabal" to gain access to your new spell! These new spells introduce a new spell concept: divide damage! Simply select the spell, then click on the targets you wish to hit. Choose 1,2,3, or 4!
- Fire: Scorching Scimitars
- Ice: Climaclysm
- Storm: Iron Sultan
- Balance: Sand Worm
- Life: Llamasu
- Death: Qismah's Curse
- Myth: Snake Charmer
Legendary Weapons
If you’ve completed the quest “Gemstone Secrets” from Polaris and “Stop! HammerTail” from Khrysalis and are currently a Promethean Crafter, you’ll gain a new quest from Librarian Fitzhume to discuss the Forge of Legends in the Arcanum with Ignus Ferric. Ignus will then sell you recipes so you can begin crafting Legendary Weapons.
Faction Vendors
There are new “faction” vendors in Mirage. This is a new type of vendor who only sells you items when you unlock a special badge associated with them. When you encounter these vendors throughout Mirage, do not be surprised when they offer you a quest to get you started. Unique (and hard-earned) treasures can be purchased from them when you earn a faction vendor’s respect!
You can even purchase a new apartment from a faction vendor. The apartment exits to your faction’s area of Mirage. (Remember, unlike your dorm room or Arcanum apartment, you will need to purchase an additional Castle Elixir if your housing limit is at max and you would like to purchase a new apartment from your faction’s vendor.)
Castle Magic
Ready to take castle decorating to a whole new level? To get started, head over to Regents Square in Marleybone and find Babbage Basset. Start the quest "Strange Charms" and begin your adventure learning castle magic with your Castle Magic Help Tome. After you have been well trained, you will be able to buy Castle Magic items from Babbage, such as treasure cards!
You'll be able to make items appear, animate, and react to your visitor's actions and locations. The creativity is endless! You can even make puzzles similar to those in early Wizard101 dungeons!
Pip Conversion
The newest stat in Wizard101 is pip conversion. This stat is found on amulets, decks, and wands from Mirage! This passive statistic can turn single pips into power pips or refund a pip back!
The first way to get a pip is by casting a spell that uses more pips then the actual value. For example, casting Phoenix, a 5 pip spell, requires 3 power pips, which is equivalent to 6 pips. Pip Conversion will occasionally refund a single pip back to you.
The second way is to get a power pip through a fully stacked 7 pip count. Again, pip conversion will occasionally replace a single pip with a power pip. It is based on your highest pip conversion stat. The higher the stat, the higher the chance.
No Spoilers!
KingsIsle will be withholding the final encounter in Mirage on the Test Realm until the time is right!
What is your favorite part about this update? Do you like Mirage?
Sunday, October 16, 2016
New Shinobi Bundle in Wizard101
The newest Wizard101 bundle, the Shinobi Bundle, is now available for $29 at GameStop in the United States! This Moo Shu themed bundle comes with stunning new gear and other cool items!
The Bundle
-Shinobi Dojo
-Shinobi Dragon Mount
-Shinobi Turtle (Shellnobi Warrior) Pet
-Shinobi Gear
-Shinobi Throwing Star
-1 Month of Membership or 5,000 Crowns
The Bundle
-Shinobi Dojo
-Shinobi Dragon Mount
-Shinobi Turtle (Shellnobi Warrior) Pet
-Shinobi Gear
-Shinobi Throwing Star
-1 Month of Membership or 5,000 Crowns
Shinobi Dojo
The Shinobi Dojo is a portable and placeable PvP dungeon. It's like a gauntlet, but when you enter it becomes a practice PvP arena. It is not the ring. The dojo is like a piece of furniture. It has been found that you cannot banish people from your house if they are in the dojo.
Shinobi Dragon Mount
The Shinobi Dragon mount is a beautiful, long dragon shaped similarly to the Leviathan pet. It can accommodate 2 passengers and provide a +40% speed boost,
Shinobi Turtle (Shellnobi Warrior) Pet
The Shellnobi Warrior pet is a faithful warrior who is a must-have for all your fighting needs! This little guys comes with a starting pedigree of 55 and a Death Ninja Pig card, which is great for PvP! He can be dyed and is very talented with daggers. Look out world. there's a new samurai is town!
Shinobi Gear & Throwing Star
The Shinobi Gear and Throwing Star is not the greatest gear, but can definitely be a great asset as a filler gear piece. All its stats are universal, which is very useful when you are between gear. The gear level goes up to level 120, so Mirage may be coming very soon.
The Shinobi Bundle is a very cool addition to Wizard101. What do you like about the bundle? Will you be buying one?
The Shinobi Bundle is a very cool addition to Wizard101. What do you like about the bundle? Will you be buying one?
Friday, October 14, 2016
New Gloomthorn Nightmare Pack
The newest holiday themed pack in Wizard101 is the Gloomthorn Nightmare Pack! This spooky Halloween pack comes with plenty of new items for your wizard to enjoy.
For 299 crowns, you could get some pretty awesome items. This pack includes:
- Gloomthorn Vine Mount
- Bat Swarm Mount
- Jack O Lantern Pet with new Headless Horseman Spell
- Werewolf Armor
- Moon Staff Weapons
- Halloween House Guests
- .... and many more awesome items!
Top 3 Things to Get
If you're not quire sure what to hope for in the pack, here's my Top 3 things to receive from the pack! Leave a comment below about your Top 3 Favorite things in this pack!
Bat Swarm Mount via Stars of the Spiral |
1. Bat Swarm Mount
This super cool mount turns your character invisible! All that's left is a swarm of bats! Pretty cool, right?
2. Moon Staff Weapons
They look super cool and are super flashy. Although not among the powerful pack wands, it still has its own unique abilities that may fill in gaps that other gear simply can't fill. But seriously, have you seen these wands? Nice job on the design KI!
3. Halloween House Guests
What's a Halloween party without ghosts- I mean, guests? These items will make your haunted house even more scary! Since they bring to life many essential aspects of making a successful haunted house, this item is a must!
One of the Moon Staff weapons via Swordroll |
*For a more detailed look at the pack, take a look at these posts from around the Spiral:
- Stars of the Spiral: List of All Pack Items
- Swordroll's Blog: Pack Review
Don't forget Edward Lifegem's Halloween Run on October 29th, 2016! Plenty of fun, prizes, and spooky activities!
Sunday, September 18, 2016
8 Crazy Things in Wizard101
Wizard101 is the reason for this blog. It is unbelievable the amount of advances it has made in the past 8 years, let alone the 3 years that I have been playing. Wizard101 has brought us so much more than a game, it's an immersive experience with a well thought out story. I am so glad I can be apart of this celebration! In honor of Wizard101's 8th Birthday, I decided to think of 8 crazy things in the game. They are not in any particular order.
8. Malistaire Drake
This dude is crazy. Like seriously... he'd destroy a whole world to bring back his dead wife, who's begging him to let go? The guy doesn't even know when to quit! Don't even mention "Malistaire the Undying" to anyone that's ever finished Azteca.
How can we forget the time he attacked an unarmed wizard? Ah, I remember it like it was just yesterday. I'm still traumatized and will not answer to "puny little wizard." You've got to be pretty insane to duel with an unarmed wizard and proceed to call them "puny." Also, it felt very nice when this "puny little wizard" went all samoorai on Malistaire.
7. The Tutorial
Headmaster Ambrose just up and throws you into a duel like it's no big deal. I don't know about you, but it was nerve racking in that battle. Who throws an inexperienced wizard into a high-stakes duel? Ambrose does, that's who.
6. Family Matters
Despite Malistaire being the epitome of evil crazy dudes in Wizard101, his family's brokenness surpasses all others. I mean, Cyrus has got one attitude. Like... do you really want some student doing your laundry? Plus, how do you deal with a criminal brother? I don't know man, it's just weird.
5. Xibalba
You know what's crazy? A comet suspended in the same place in the sky for years. Even crazier? It all falls down when you show up. The entire plot twist of Azteca completely takes us by surprise. I guess KI needed to damper our 8-0 winning streak. To much privileged wizards, I suppose.
4. Old Cob
The dude just turned on us. So, as Wizard101 starts to break away from its typical Arrive-Discover-Fight-Defeat-Win quest pattern, they shake it up with the last person you think would turn on you. Old Cob, that shady dude you thought was on your side the whole time, just up and betrays you! Maybe there isn't a lot going on for a spider?
3. Talking Animals
When you first begin, the only talking animal is Gamma. You probably thought to yourself... "This isn't that weird. It's just an owl." But next thing you know you're talking to dogs, manders, and kroks? At this point it probably doesn't bother you, but did you ever think that literally KI chose to use animals? Think about it... they literally said "Yes, I want talking dinosaurs in the game, it will be a hit!" (Disclaimer: I'm not knocking on this element of the game, rather pointing it out. It's an awesome element by the way)
2. Backpacks
The concept of our wizard's backpack is literally sorcery on its own. The average wizard can fit 80 items in a backpack, including but not limited to: houses, pets, giant mounts, plants, and gear. How do you even fit a HOUSE in a backpack? Only Ambrose knows.
1. Student Wizard goes 2-0
How does a student wizard, not a veteran wizard, go 2-0 in defeating the "most talented" (and I say that with sarcasm) villains in the Spiral? Beats me. Tons of accomplished wizards try their best at stopping them, but in the end it was the student who had the final spell. Also, not to mention Student Wizard goes 6-0 in the Immortal Games and their side bosses. Yep, perfectly normal.
Thanks for reading this short article! What's the craziest thing in Wizard101?
8. Malistaire Drake
This dude is crazy. Like seriously... he'd destroy a whole world to bring back his dead wife, who's begging him to let go? The guy doesn't even know when to quit! Don't even mention "Malistaire the Undying" to anyone that's ever finished Azteca.
How can we forget the time he attacked an unarmed wizard? Ah, I remember it like it was just yesterday. I'm still traumatized and will not answer to "puny little wizard." You've got to be pretty insane to duel with an unarmed wizard and proceed to call them "puny." Also, it felt very nice when this "puny little wizard" went all samoorai on Malistaire.
7. The Tutorial
Headmaster Ambrose just up and throws you into a duel like it's no big deal. I don't know about you, but it was nerve racking in that battle. Who throws an inexperienced wizard into a high-stakes duel? Ambrose does, that's who.
6. Family Matters
Despite Malistaire being the epitome of evil crazy dudes in Wizard101, his family's brokenness surpasses all others. I mean, Cyrus has got one attitude. Like... do you really want some student doing your laundry? Plus, how do you deal with a criminal brother? I don't know man, it's just weird.
5. Xibalba
You know what's crazy? A comet suspended in the same place in the sky for years. Even crazier? It all falls down when you show up. The entire plot twist of Azteca completely takes us by surprise. I guess KI needed to damper our 8-0 winning streak. To much privileged wizards, I suppose.
4. Old Cob
The dude just turned on us. So, as Wizard101 starts to break away from its typical Arrive-Discover-Fight-Defeat-Win quest pattern, they shake it up with the last person you think would turn on you. Old Cob, that shady dude you thought was on your side the whole time, just up and betrays you! Maybe there isn't a lot going on for a spider?
3. Talking Animals
When you first begin, the only talking animal is Gamma. You probably thought to yourself... "This isn't that weird. It's just an owl." But next thing you know you're talking to dogs, manders, and kroks? At this point it probably doesn't bother you, but did you ever think that literally KI chose to use animals? Think about it... they literally said "Yes, I want talking dinosaurs in the game, it will be a hit!" (Disclaimer: I'm not knocking on this element of the game, rather pointing it out. It's an awesome element by the way)
2. Backpacks
The concept of our wizard's backpack is literally sorcery on its own. The average wizard can fit 80 items in a backpack, including but not limited to: houses, pets, giant mounts, plants, and gear. How do you even fit a HOUSE in a backpack? Only Ambrose knows.
1. Student Wizard goes 2-0
How does a student wizard, not a veteran wizard, go 2-0 in defeating the "most talented" (and I say that with sarcasm) villains in the Spiral? Beats me. Tons of accomplished wizards try their best at stopping them, but in the end it was the student who had the final spell. Also, not to mention Student Wizard goes 6-0 in the Immortal Games and their side bosses. Yep, perfectly normal.
Thanks for reading this short article! What's the craziest thing in Wizard101?
Sunday, August 28, 2016
A Brief Observation of In-Game Behavior of Wizard101 Players
I've sat around quietly in Wizard City, seeing how players behaved. It's interesting to see what unfolds when you fade into the background. So what happens over a brief period of time in Wizard City?
I started in the Commons, in the most crowded realm I could get into, which was Bernie. At first it was just busy, and no one was talking. Finally, someone chatted, and actually addressed the lack of people talking. Conversation soon bloomed, and it was literally about no one talking.
A small group gathered in front of Castle Tours. They were all wearing stitched gear, the typical attire of the experienced gamer. They didn't randomly talk to others, but rather to their friend group. It's possible that this group knows each other outside of the game OR are in contact outside the game, because they were talking as if they were in a group chat. They talked about playing housing games, PvP, and port parties.
Stereotypically, a group like this may harass AFK or Low-Level characters, but this group didn't. They simply met up and talked for a bit, then went their separate ways. Speaking from experience, it's really not fun when high level players are mean, so this group is exemplary for high level players. If you are of a high level, being a friendly and helpful wizard goes a long way!
I also found that many lower level wizards tend to ask for gifts. I'm sure most of you are aware of this. This typical behavior, along with the "Help needed." "Can we hatch?" and "Can you take me here?" messages were frequently popping up. It's unfortunate that some low levels ruin the reputation of low levels as a whole.
Next, I went to Unicorn Way to see what was happening. I was on realm Balestrom, and it was silent. There was barely any wizards fighting, so I went to the Bazaar, which is a pretty busy place. Strangely, it was also silent. At one point 2 wizards discussed school specific pets, but that was mainly it. In the past, I have found that it's common to use the Bazaar to look for hatches and Treasure Card trades.
I then went back to the Commons, this time on realm Wu. Yes, the infamous realm Wu. Known for drama, role playing, and the frequent "I need a girl" messages. As much as I want to say it isn't true, it is. Realm Wu is like the bad side of town. Everyone harasses each other. It's just really not a great place to leave your wizard AFK. I would advise you to not go to realm Wu if you know what's good for you.
In general, I've found that most stereotypes are true when it comes to Wizard101. That being said, do not automatically assume the worst when someone friends you at random. Lots of wizards have good intentions. Ultimately, be careful with who you friend, quest, and chat with.
**I would like to re-dive into this topic on a later date, and go more in depth with it.
What type of behaviors have you observed in Wizard City?
I started in the Commons, in the most crowded realm I could get into, which was Bernie. At first it was just busy, and no one was talking. Finally, someone chatted, and actually addressed the lack of people talking. Conversation soon bloomed, and it was literally about no one talking.
A small group gathered in front of Castle Tours. They were all wearing stitched gear, the typical attire of the experienced gamer. They didn't randomly talk to others, but rather to their friend group. It's possible that this group knows each other outside of the game OR are in contact outside the game, because they were talking as if they were in a group chat. They talked about playing housing games, PvP, and port parties.
The small group of experienced players |
I also found that many lower level wizards tend to ask for gifts. I'm sure most of you are aware of this. This typical behavior, along with the "Help needed." "Can we hatch?" and "Can you take me here?" messages were frequently popping up. It's unfortunate that some low levels ruin the reputation of low levels as a whole.
Next, I went to Unicorn Way to see what was happening. I was on realm Balestrom, and it was silent. There was barely any wizards fighting, so I went to the Bazaar, which is a pretty busy place. Strangely, it was also silent. At one point 2 wizards discussed school specific pets, but that was mainly it. In the past, I have found that it's common to use the Bazaar to look for hatches and Treasure Card trades.
I then went back to the Commons, this time on realm Wu. Yes, the infamous realm Wu. Known for drama, role playing, and the frequent "I need a girl" messages. As much as I want to say it isn't true, it is. Realm Wu is like the bad side of town. Everyone harasses each other. It's just really not a great place to leave your wizard AFK. I would advise you to not go to realm Wu if you know what's good for you.
In general, I've found that most stereotypes are true when it comes to Wizard101. That being said, do not automatically assume the worst when someone friends you at random. Lots of wizards have good intentions. Ultimately, be careful with who you friend, quest, and chat with.
**I would like to re-dive into this topic on a later date, and go more in depth with it.
What type of behaviors have you observed in Wizard City?
Monday, August 15, 2016
House-A-Palooza 2016
House-A-Palooza Specials
- Now through August 21st, 2016, save up to 50% off Houses and Housing Items in the Crown Shop
- NEW Schooled Themed Furniture Sets: Fire, Ice, Storm, Balance, Life, Death, Myth
- Winterbane Hall and Midnight Sun Pagoda are back for limited time at 25% Off
- Sales on:
- Emperor's Attic Pack and Housing Elixirs
- Baddle of the Bands, Tanglewood Terror, and One-Shot Dungeons
- Select Games and Fishing Multi-tanks
- Build-A-Castle Medieval Set
GET A FREE ITEM!
Use the code "housingpack" or click here to redeem a free Emperor's Attic Pack
**From NOW until August 15th, 2016 at 11:59 pm US Central Time, get up to 50% more bonus crowns with your purchase of crowns! click here to see the sale! Take advantage of this sale to buy new housing items at discounted prices!
Newest Items
All the newest School Themed Furniture Packs are 4500 crowns or 22500 gold. They are cirrently on sale for 3395 crowns. There are 3 sets per school. Here is what you can expect from each pack:
Fire Furniture Sets
Ice Furniture Sets
Storm Furniture Sets
Balance Furniture Sets
Life Furniture Sets
Death Furniture Sets
Myth Furniture Sets
Do you like the new school packs? What's your favorite item? Let me know in the comments!
Thursday, August 4, 2016
New Immortal's Lore Pack
It's about time that Aquila got back into the spotlight. The new Aquilan-themed Immortal's Lore Pack just hit the Crown Shop for 399 crowns! This illustrious pack is sure to please even the Immortals' most stubborn challenger!
- Furniture: Rugs, Columns, Wallpaper, Small Decorations, and all the hidden furniture in Aquila
- Aquilan House Guests
- New Pet: Mechanical Owl
- New Treasure Cards
- New Learnable Spells: Hephaestus (Fire,) Athena Battlesight (Myth,) and Queen Calypso (Storm)
- New Gear: Aquilan Velite Set, Aquilan Charioteer Set, and Aquilan Secutor Set
- Pet Snacks
- Existing Pets
- Seeds
- Reagents
About the Spells
Each spell follows the same rule as all other spells: you can blade, enchant, hex, etc. If you learn one of the spells that belong to your school, the power pip rule applies the same way as for any other spell from your school. If it's not your school's spell, you'll need the corresponding mastery amulet to use power pips on it. You will not be docked training points for learning the spell.
Athena Battle Sight
Myth's newest spell, Athena Battle Sight, deals 520 Myth damage to one target and leaves a -35% shield to the caster. This spell can be obtained 3 different ways: Its dropped by the Loremaster, Immortal's Lore Pack, or crafted with the recipe from Grady in Dun Scaith, Avalon.
Each spell follows the same rule as all other spells: you can blade, enchant, hex, etc. If you learn one of the spells that belong to your school, the power pip rule applies the same way as for any other spell from your school. If it's not your school's spell, you'll need the corresponding mastery amulet to use power pips on it. You will not be docked training points for learning the spell.
Athena Battle Sight
Myth's newest spell, Athena Battle Sight, deals 520 Myth damage to one target and leaves a -35% shield to the caster. This spell can be obtained 3 different ways: Its dropped by the Loremaster, Immortal's Lore Pack, or crafted with the recipe from Grady in Dun Scaith, Avalon.
Hephaestus
Fire's newest spell, Hephaestus, deals 425-475 Fire damage to one target and leaves a +25% fire bubble. This spell can be obtained 3 different ways: Its dropped by the Loremaster, Immortal's Lore Pack, or crafted with the recipe from Grady in Dun Scaith, Avalon.
Queen Calypso
Storm's newest spell, Queen Calypso, deals 445-505 Storm damage to one target and adds +20% traps to all enemy team members before the damage is dealt. This increases the damage to 534-606 Storm damage. This spell can be obtained 3 different ways: Its dropped by the Loremaster, Immortal's Lore Pack, or crafted with the recipe from Grady in Dun Scaith, Avalon.
The entire pack seems pretty cool. It's nice to have more Aquila themed items than just the Olympian Bundle and the hidden items in Aquila. The gear, cosmetically, is super cool looking, but I am unsure in how good the gear is stat-wise. Please check out Duelist101 for gear information and Stars of the Spiral for an in depth look at the pack.
I am personally excited to see more Aquila in the game, and I think this pack is pretty cool. What do you think? Are you using some of the things dropped?
Sunday, July 31, 2016
Is Double Rewards for Daily Assignments Worth It?
Daily Assignments was one of the newest features to the game. It gave us small rewards for playing each day, and usually didn't require to much effort to complete. Recently, KingsIsle introduced the newest member benefit: Double Rewards for Daily Assignments! Sounds pretty nice, right? But is it worth it?
Daily Assignments rewards very small prizes. However, doubled prizes adds up fairly quickly. Depending on how long the benefit lasts and where you are currently at, you can easily pick up some extra currency. The total double rewards for the entire 15 days of assignments is as follows:
- 12,600 Gold
- 60 Arena Tickets
- 100 Crowns
The Arena Ticket total alone is pretty nice. The Gold total isn't super great, put who doesn't want free gold? 100 Crowns is a lot for something that isn't normally free. Though these totals are small, multiple wizards completing the assignment adds up quickly. You could end up with 600 Crowns for your account!
...And it gets better! On Chest days, you get access to a whole different loot role than normally given! This means better drops and happy wizards.
...And it gets better! On Chest days, you get access to a whole different loot role than normally given! This means better drops and happy wizards.
Member Rewards Bonus - Picture Credits to Stars of the Spiral |
So, is it worth it to partake in Double Rewards? In my opinion, it certainly is. Doubled Crowns is an offer I wouldn't pass up. Plus, if you're a maxed wizard. what else could you possibly be doing?
What's your opinion? Let me know in the comments!