The Queue: Hello? Is this thing on?

Another week passes and another Friday arrives, just like every Friday before it.

But let’s not get bogged down in the little monopolies of life. Let’s answer some questions.

The first game I can think of is Wing Commander, a space combat game. Missions progressed sequentially, and some things would change depending on what you did. Not many, but some: like say you were reckless in your last mission and your wingman died. Future missions that should have been with that wingman you’ll have to do solo. (So don’t let your wingman die!) The chain of missions you did would vary based on how well you did — if you performed poorly and didn’t meet mission objections and were thus losing the war against the cruel alien Kilrathi, you would go down a different chain of missions and story as you were forced to fight to defend your ships against attack rather than advancing on the enemy. There was a “good” ending and a “bad” ending, and you had control over which one you got.

Wing Commander 2 was the first game I recall that had voiced characters — though I think it may have been an add-on pack. At the time it seemed wild to have characters just talking to you whenever there was dialog. Later games — I think perhaps Wing Commander 4? — added cutscenes with live actors rather than animated characters, with Mark Hamill playing the role of your character. (And of course eventually there was an actual movie, but like most video game movies it was nothing to write home about.)

These games felt like a tipping point, where games were taking those first steps towards being movies you could participate in. Looking back they seem awkward, but at the time I loved them, thought it was amazing the things they were doing.

You know, I dig it. It’s not flashy and it’s not threatening. Really, it’s kind of zen. The music is chill. The world is all cool, mellow colors. It feels like a nice place to hang out, and it’s really rare that we get to spend any time in nice places.

I think Blizzard oversold the place when the devs talked about it being a wildly strange new land, unlike anything we’d ever, ever seen before. It has unique design elements, but is I think the most unique elements are the most subtle ones… and subtlety doesn’t make something feel strikingly unique and new.

The color palette is unusual. The water is a slightly off shade of blue, and very clear. Everything here feels very solid, very stable — buildings are blockier, creatures are stouter. But even so, most of the lines here are soft. None of the corners are razor-sharp, and many edges look like old, worn stone that’s been here for eons, but still stands. And it’s quiet here, peaceful despite all of the players passing through on their daily errands. Even out in this strange new world, beyond life and death both, this place feels safe. A literal haven from the monsters knocking on the gates. I don’t know when any place in Azeroth made me feel this way, and it’s all communicated subtly, with color, with architecture, with lines and proportions and music.

Zereth Mortis is just a pleasant place to be.

I hope we don’t ruin it, like we’ve ruined so many things.

I’m afraid all you get back is the Soul Ash and Soul Cinders — the base item and missives are gone.

My opinion is that it was designed to fit with the story, to fill some kind of narrative beat. The raid unlock schedule doesn’t let us progress before we hit the week’s story, which I expect will involve Anduin and set us on the path of the next few bosses. And I think that’s a pretty good experience, keeping the gameplay tied to the story.

I’m not entirely convinced it will have as much impact on the World First race as I’m seeing discussed. The bosses will be available when Mythic opens, and they’re sure to run them on Heroic and see what they’re like before they encounter them in Mythic. To really have World First raiders go in blind, those bosses would have to remain locked on non-Mythic difficulties for two weeks or more — otherwise there are no big secrets that you’re going to be hiding from top-tier raiders. Though Blizzard could add another Mythic-only phase…

Yes, it seems to have reset for everyone. It is supposed to reset every three days, and my suspicion is that it is off schedule somehow because of patch day. Like maybe it’s designed to reset every Thursday and not reset precisely every three days. But that’s only suspicion. Whatever the issue is, my guess is that it will shake itself out… but we’ll see what happens the next time the quest resets.

There have been so many things vying for my attention that I haven’t logged on in a while! Last I recall I was looking for diamonds to make a cutting tool to get into closed-off sections of ships to find things. I have still not been rescued (nor have I found diamonds), but I’m sure any minute now someone will come.

Any minute now.

I’m pretending it doesn’t exist. Does that answer your question?

Any fishing.

Though, okay, I suppose fishing fans deserve their special prizes. But my chances of getting such a mount are extremely slim.

And that’s all I have for you today, my friends. Take care of yourself out there and have a pleasant weekend (if you can manage it). I’m rooting for you over here.