Welcome to your Wednesday Loading... You can read previously enjoyed editions of Loading... in the blog archive. (For the navigation impaired that means you click the link and then look in the right menu.)

The 479th edition of Loading... is brought to you by Guild Portal. Guild Management has never been easier! Not sure what GuildPortal is, or what it can do for your Guild? Click here.

Once again my Interweb connection is flaky, which is great news for the loyal readership as my blurb is cut blissfully short. Thankfully our incredible community managers don't use my connection and have delivered 14 new MMOG articles today. I'm going to have to interview and hire some cheerleaders soon! Most MMO networks don't deliver 14 new articles in a month!

Speaking of flaky, Alienware's ability to build a computer that doens't outlive a fruit fly appears to extend beyond computers that they have cobbled together for the Ten Ton Hammer staff. This lawsuit is heating up, pun intended. (Thanks Karen) For the record, we don't have any plans to sue Alienware, though I would personally like to stick a fake "Out of Order" sign on the restroom and then buy them a few Ex-Lax martinis. Nothing says restitution like a gastrointestinal gag.

I mentioned a few days ago that I was giving Everquest 2 another shot. If you haven't taken the plunge and checked out the expansion then give Jeff's Echoes of Faydwer Review a read. It will either push you to revisit the game or save you $39.

How many technicians does it take to make my Interweb connection work? Apparently more than work at the ISP I pay each month. Do connectivity problems ruin your MMOG experiece? Let me know, either in the comments section of the blog or in our forums!

Exclusive TenTonHammer.com Content!

12.13.2006

• Dungeons and Dragons Online: Favor System Guide
  "Never one to sit idly when things are changing, we at DDO @ Ten Ton Hammer have updated two guides about the drow! We've updated the Favor System Guide to include the 1750 Favor Rewards."
• Dungeons and Dragons Online: Drow Race Guide
  "Never one to sit idly when things are changing, we at DDO @ Ten Ton Hammer have updated two guides about the drow! The Drow Race Guide now contains a look at drow Enhancements."
• Dungeons and Dragons Online: State of the Warforged
  "Turbine made some big changes in Module 3 to improve DDO's maligned race, the warforged. Ralsu wants you to decide if those changes did the trick."
• Everquest 2: Echoes of Faydwer Review
  "EverQuest 2's most ambitious expansion, Echoes of Faydwer, launched about a month ago. Tony "RadarX" Jones reviewed the game from the standpoint of an EQ2 devotee, now Jeff "Ethec" Woleslagle evaluates the game as a returning gamer. Is EoF enough to bring former EQ2 and EQLive players back? To bring gamers new to the EverQuest tradition aboard?"
• Everquest 2: Solusek Ro Deity Quest Guide
  "If you burn with passion of utter and total neutrality, then Solusek Ro might just be the God for you! The Burning Prince might forge his own way, but he does so in a way that all will remember. If this is your deity of choice, then you won't want to pass by this complete walk through to ease your journey."
• EverQuest 2: Tunare Deity Quest Series Walkthrough
  "Do you want to bask in the healing power of Tunare? Do you want to help nourish Norrath through nature and giving back to others? Pfftt me either but you get some pretty awesome abilities. RadarX gives you your walkthrough for all of the Tunare Deity quests."
• Gods and Heroes: Phoenix
  "By far one of the coolest mythological beasts of all time, the Phoenix has the potential to be one of the big bads in Gods and Heroes. Kiara takes a look at this amazing creature and where the myth comes from."
• Lord of the Rings Online: We're Not Average Gamers...Or Are We?
  "This week JP explores the meaning of the age old phrase, "the average gamer". Just who the hell is this "average gamer", and what makes him so damn important?"
• Lord of the Rings Online: 50 Beta Passes
  "Turbine knows who they're friends are. They have just fired off 50 more beta seats for TenTon-Community members! That's five more weeks of beta giveaways on the LotroSource forums! Be an active member of the community and become a member of the beta testing team!"
• Vanguard: Saga of Heroes - Blood Mage Guide Preview
  "Little has been disclosed about the mysterious Vanguard: Saga of Heroes Blood Mage...until now. Zinn, our Man in the Field, brings you some comprehensive Blood Mage information direct from beta, including details on forms, 20 levels of spells, and more. Check out our class guide preview for insight into this unique class."
• World of Warcraft: Decursive 2.0
  "With Decursive now defunct (witty!) helping remove those horrible debuffs can be very difficult. It takes two total clicks in order to get that debuff gone. With some new macro commands you can easily turn that into one click, making removing debuffs almost as easy as the days of Decursive!"
• World of Warcraft: What Do You Think Of Patch 2.0?
  "Weekly forum poll and question, this one discussing the recent 2.0.1 patch for World of Warcraft."
• World of Warcraft: Aureal's Beta Journal #5 - Flying Mounts
  "Flying mounts have intrigued me since Blizzard first announced that they would be available in the Burning Crusade expansion. I took a stroll down to Shadowmoon Valley to see just how much one of these mounts would cost me."
• World of Warcraft: Back To The Dark Side
  "A look at my plans for the Beta in the next few weeks. Back to exploring the seedier side of things, with my Shadow Priest."

Hot Content

• World of Warcraft: Decursive 2.0
• Lord of the Rings Online: 50 Beta Passes
• Everquest 2: Echoes of Faydwer Review
• Age of Conan: Screenshots
• 2Moons: Screenshots
• Vanguard: Saga of Heroes - Interview With Nick Parkinson
• Ten Ton Hammer Holiday Gift Guide

Real World News - You Can't Make This Up

• Tech Tips For Wilderness Survival [Thanks Matt]
  My tip, stay at home and play WoW.
• 3 Million Bees Removed From Apartment
  PETA expected to fight the eviction in court.
• Student Sneaks AK-47 Into School In Camouflage Bag
  Camouflage bags banned. AK-47s still OK.
• Ten Swimsuit Models Stand By Road To Promote Safety
  What could possibly go wrong?

Vin Diesel Fact: Vin Diesel has never received a spam e-mail for Viagra, Vjagra, Viiagra, or viagrae .... they just wouldn't dare!" [Thanks Pat]

As always, thank you for visiting TenTonHammer.com.
- John "Boomjack" Hoskin