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Salute to the Armed Forces!
By Changul
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style="border: 2px solid ; width: 104px; height: 137px;" align="left">In
this special Ten Ton Hammer feature, we want to recognize and support
all those who serve their country. Men and women all over the world
play many different roles in their country's defense, from every walk
of life. And besides that, our featured Armed Forces Personnel all play
video games! Today's "Salute to the Armed Forces" goes all the way to
Baghdad, Iraq, where we meet Sergeant First Class Matt Michalek. SFC
Michalek is a Platoon Sergeant in the United States Army. I can't post
any location
details because then he would probably have to kill me! And looking at
his picture, I would imagine he could find many ways to do just that,
and using only a dull spoon, too! After correcting my abysmal spelling
for "sergeant", he assured me that Platoon Sergeants are not the same
as Drill sergeants, ( to my vast relief!), and we were able to
proceed..with caution on my part.
/salute
right, you are on leave. style="color: rgb(128, 0, 128); font-weight: bold;">I am looking at
your siggy and I *think* it means you are a Sargeant First Class in the
Army Infantry? And I never can spell seargant..sargeant..correctly.
looking weapon there, in your photo.
has. only good against
ranged, though......very bad against melee.
*laughs* Anyhow, your letter
says you are a big Ten Ton Hammer and Vanguard fan.
playing since launch. TTH is
the best info site that I can find.
team works hard to keep it informative. style="color: rgb(128, 0, 128); font-weight: bold;">You are currently
stationed in Baghdad?
for a little over 6 months.
sand..and..sun and sand?
there has been a lot of rain and mud. style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">And being in the big city, there is not
much sand, just lots of trash. style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">But getting into the summer time now, so
lots of sun and over 100 degree weather.
Vanguard over there?
connection is not too bad. Sometimes
the lag gets horrible and
I end up dying more than anything else. style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">There is a wireless internet service set
up that I can subscribe to.
Cell
phones are OK too, lots of people have them. style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Internet service is very expensive, and
somewhat flaky, but is better than nothing.
would you say are in your platoon? And how many soldiers are in a
platoon?
hardcore gamers, but they are still hooked on WoW.....have not made the
switch to Vanguard. An
infantry platoon has about 40 soldiers total.
always order them to play Vanguard!
experience come into play at all in game raids?
my horrible lag. I
cannot keep up with everyone else, so I don't want to be a
burden...mostly solo for me. But
in the past, the main part of
military experience that has helped is the organazational and
leadership skills. The
ability to keep a bunch of random people organized and focused is
important in groups and on raids.
shows up late for your groups?
number of my soldiers had a guild on WoW. style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">So we did a lot of stuff together. style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Worked out really well. style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I am slowly trying to convince everyone
to move to Vanguard, which I
like much more than WoW.
Sergeant! style="color: rgb(128, 0, 128); font-weight: bold;">So what class do
you play in Vanguard?
choose that?
guy......you know, pally or shaman....that sort of thing. style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I wanted a change of pace, more of
a real caster and the
Psionicist was new and cool.
best
about Psionicist?
stick. It seems to be a
pretty good class to solo with, but I am still getting used to all the
nuances. It would
probably be pretty good in a group for crowd control. style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I have to learn that aspect, because I am
used to being a healer in a group, style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">and unfortunately, that is one thing a
Psionicist does not have.
Psionicists have a seperate channel just for them, so they can
"communicate" with other psionicists? Is that true and/or useful?
I have seen more and more conversations lately. style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">It seems good for asking advice, etc., style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">plus, when active, it gives you a boost
to energy rejuvenation. Not
much, but everything helps.
know! Any
bugs you really want to see fixed with your class?
nothing really stands out right now. Like I said, I am still
getting used to the nuances and details of the Psionicist, and have not
really explored the grouping aspects of the class yet.
hit 20, the whole game changes, it seems. For the better!
powerful spells and abilities, less aggro from annoying mobs. style="color: rgb(128, 0, 128); font-weight: bold;">Plus I think this
is a game that takes real skill and not just macros to excel at it.
was all about the macro. I
look forward to getting there. style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Once we get back to civilization, I think
I will be more active in getting a guild together with my guys. style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I will prob make 20 in a few weeks, style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">unless I get on a crafting binge again.
your overall favorite game of all time?
much all of them. I am quite an addict. Been playing online games of
some sort or another since the beginning of the genre.
first?
long time ago. The first real MMORPG was Neverwinter Nights on AOL,
moved on to UO, but the first electronic crack , of course, was EQ.
these days are so awesome, how do you like Vanguard's?
lots of new stuff to explore. Also, I like the more complex crafting
system, and a lot more fun than WoW.
wish for Vanguard, what would it be?
fine tuning. There have been
a lot of improvements since launch, and so far, everything looks like
it is going in a great direction. But style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> I wish my client would stop crashing.
want the crashing to end. style="color: rgb(128, 0, 128); font-weight: bold;">Now we just need
to get your whole platoon to play!
down the internet in my building.
SFC you want to give a shout out to?
have done since being back is go to Cubs games and play Vanguard.
to say to our readers?
to be wise and thoughful, huh? style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Well...don't get mad
at someone who is totally lagged out and causing group wipes, since he
just may be in Baghdad dodging rockets while playing (which has
happened before).
combat, carrying a 50 lb. pack and a laptop...do the headphones fit
over
the helmet?
That sure did sound crazy! But ya gotta do what ya gotta do!
A Big Ten Ton Hammer Salute
to SFC Michalek!
Are you a gamer in the Armed Forces of your country?
Email
Changul for your chance in the spotlight!
Send a shout out to the Gaming Armed Forces here on our
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