Summer Vacation?

The guild house is pretty quiet these days. It seems that many folks have left the game for their summer vacations, lucky sods.

No, I really don't have a life. In my real-life job, working for a large architectural firm, I don't have any sort of back-up to cover the role of architectural technology manager for me. So, I'm generally discouraged from taking more than a couple of days off at any one time.

That means that, while most everyone else in my office gets to take time off, I get to sit at my desk answering stupid questions that *I* would like to escape from. Honestly, it's difficult not to get burned-out in a position like mine, which is why I make sure I take my breaks and lunches, and occasionally screw around on less important projects that I find more interesting, than laboring over the same drudgery all the time.

But, what about when I get home and want to take some time to escape into the world of DDO?

Well, the world is still there, but as in the real world, many of the players have taken time away from the game, leaving Stormreach far less occupied than normal.

So, what can a player do to keep himself entertained while everyone's gone?

Mostly maintenance, from what I can tell. And a bit of solo work.

And, a lot of PUGing.

Except that, right now, I'm not much in the mood to PUG.

When server populations are low, like they are right now, my experience has been that there're some rather questionable group compositions out there. And, since I run mostly Clerics, my participation in such groups, generally, isn't as profitable as it could be.

This isn't to say that there aren't good PUG parties out there. Just that there aren't as many when most players are out on vacation.

And, no, I don't play this game simply to turn a profit. If I did, I certainly wouldn't have a stable full of Clerics to choose from. Maybe one, but not three and two-thirds.

Two-thirds?

Yep. I have two multi-class characters, Trinarius and Intrinsiq who serve as back-up healers. They're both one-third Rangers, so they can, and generally do, serve their part in helping to keep party members alive.

I might throw my Bard in there, too, but he doesn't have any healing spells trained up, and he only heals when someone gives him a wand; he doesn't buy his own.

So, out of the nine characters in my clan, six serve, in some form or another, as healers.

And, of the three remaining, two can serve as Warforged repair technicians.

Hmm... maybe I should've been a paramedic instead of an architect...

But, the question is, while everyone else is out on vacation, and since I can't take one myself, what can I do to play the game without playing healer (or repairer) for everyone else?

Well, I haven't figured that out yet, but I know playing banker until folks return isn't my idea of a good time.

Perhaps I should resurrect my goal to figure out a way to solo The Pit...

That could be interesting...

Keep it fun!