Virtual Tourist - Assassin's Creed Origins 8/2/20

Morning!

Life continues in its usual chaotic cycles. I used a few days of vacation this week, and instead of vegging I spent them working on writer stuff. :P I never learn.

I have been learning a lot about landing pages and opt-in pages and figuring out how to get more traction for my novels in general. Writing a good book is but one of the many things you have to do. The writer's life is not for the faint of heart. Heh heh.

Assassin's Creed Origins

Our first view of the city of Alexandria! A sprawling metropolis and cultural melting pot.

A temple in Alexandria. Depending on where you are will depend on whether they are Egyptian, Greek, or even Roman. Some are hybrids.

A Ptolemy statue. He was Cleopatra's younger brother and has usurped her rule. Destroying them is one of Bayek's little pleasures. :P

Side view of part of Alexandria. The game has a photo shooting utility and the photos will show on the main map. So you can like other peeps pics. A neat idea! They even do a picture of the day. Encouraging us all to be Virtual Tourists. :P

Here is some gorgeous tile work. Definitively showing Greek influence.

Inside one of the homes in Alexandria. I so love all the detail!

One of the major streets in Alexandria.

The Library of Alexandria. Imposing, is it not? Yet a perfect example of the mishmash of cultures in the magnificent city. (Ah, makes me think of Rachel Caine's awesome series The Great Library set in an alternate history where this bastion of learning was not destroyed.)

Pharos the Lighthouse in Alexandria - one of the seven wonders of the world.

Inside the Great Library. There are scholars everywhere you look.

A giant gyroscope inside the library.

It's awe-inspiring to see what people managed to build in ancient times.

View of the top area of the Pharos Lighthouse.

Statues in the waters of Alexandria. Just how did they get these out here?

The Tomb of Alexander the Great

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Virtual Tourist - Witcher 3 10/14/18

Morning!
Between quarter end at work and all the rain, I have no brain cells to rub together. Wheee!

Mini Movie Reviews

Venom - the film is a bit slow as they set up the pieces, but once Venom connects with Eddie Brock, the wild and fun ride begins. Full of snark and adorable bits, it plays down on the horrific elements of what Carlton Drake and the symbiotes have done and are trying to do. Rating: 3.75 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price to See Again!)

Virtual Tourist - Witcher 3

Still, inside a dream, this is the view from Yennefer's apartment.

A view of Kaer Mohren in the dream.

The dream turns into a nightmare. The Wild Hunt is here, breaking the dimensional barrier to come into our realm.

Geralt wakes from his nightmare to frustrating reality. He's been trying to chase down Yennefer for over six months now that his memories have returned.

Look at that gorgeous sky!!!!!!

Loved the little details in the first tavern we visit. Beautiful colored flowers painted in the walls. A bit of color to push away the dreary existence in the middle of a war-torn area.

More of the tavern and a view of my mentor.

Nilfgaard outpost in White Orchard. The conquering side. Locals are not thrilled at their presence. 

Captain at the Nilfgaardian outpost. He's trying hard to be patient with the locals, but that patience is being tested.

A new day? Could be the end of one as well. Lol. I can't remember. But a lovely view either way!

Obligatory Promotion Section!

If you've not seen it yet, please take a look at the first book trailer for Alien Redemption!

If you like what you see, please consider"liking" the video. Sharing it would be even better! I need to start getting the word out, despite the book release being months away. Promotion is the hardest part of being an author. So any help would be much welcomed! Thank you!

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Virtual Tourist - My Time at Portia 4/29/18

Morning, all!

April continues to be quite insane. It's mind-bending how crazy and weird this month has been. Let's hope May helps us turn the corner! :P



Avengers Infinity War - This is a major rollercoaster ride! Super high stakes from the moment the film starts with quips thrown in to relieve tension. Be prepared for a cliffhanger of sorts.  Just remember Dr. Strange's comment that this is the way things need to go. :P One small extra bit at the very end of the credits. (Some of the scenes where characters meet each other for the first time are priceless!) Rating: 4 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price to See Again!)

My Time at Portia

View of the night's sky outside my workshop.

The Rat Prince (and my soon to be couch!). First "dungeon" in the game. Went in to fix the power in a cave for the town, and next thing I know I have to fight for my life to find the exit. Found out they are also the ones responsible for a rash of thefts in town.

Once you can defeat one of the Flying Pig Civil Defense Force people, you are allowed to go to the Hazardous Ruins. Unlike the other two ruin locations, this one is not for mining but combat and movement skills. There are four tiers (so far) and each has five to six 'levels' with a boss at the last one. Some of the dropped loot you have to have for building! (Though some of it I noticed will later show up in the mining areas once you get higher in level.)

Another section of one of the levels. The gate at the end won't open to let you either exit or move on to the next level until all the bad guys are dead. (If you hear a turkey's gobble, it means you're about to have respawned bad guys!) You can hack dark crates to get money and goods. Other colored containers won't do anything.

View from the entrance to the Hazardous Ruins

After you do a series of builder quests to repair a lift and track down and fix the source of a pipe leaking hazardous materials into the town's water, you go to the WOW Factory. While setting the pipe, you will get swept to the lower levels. There you meet Red Mice (they throw fireballs!) and eventually make it to the Rat King. He is the reason for the hazardous leak. He's mad about his sone being dead. He is the last piece to get to fix the town's water. Have not been able to get past him yet. Luckily, you can go in and out to this last point. 

The item before you is the level 2 Assembly platform. I had to upgrade to build the waterwheel in the picture. I had to buy more land to get that sucker in here. :P

Inside the Portia School House. You can enter a lot of buildings. As you gain plusses with the people who live in Portia, you will also be able to come into their homes. I inadvertently went into the Tree Farm house around 11 PM and found the two guys snoring away. Lol.

A view of a bunch of the building/creation equipment I have so far made and used. While the Assembly Platform and House get upgraded, the rest of the machines you create new versions. So you start with an open forge, then do the small yellow forge behind me, then the larger one in the back. From here you can see from right to left: the Skiver level 2, the basic grill, forge 2 and forge 3 (I think they are called Civil Forge and Industrial Forge), Cooking Set, Blender, beginning forge, Industrial Cutter, and part machine. Each higher one will include more things it can work on and making them in bigger batches. 

I'd been trying to get the next level of housing, and it's been a fight. Finally got it and forced it to fit! Lol. You end up buying more land, and I needed the Assembly Platform level 2, so finally was able to once more get the money and goods to upgrade the house. You can't tell from the picture, but between all the equipment, the assembly platform and the house, there's room for nothing else! Will have to buy more land again. Ugh!

May you survive the rest of April! Huzzah!