There was once an unfortunate occult key keeper named Edgar. Edgar belonged to a long line of mystical key keepers, entrusted with safeguarding ancient and powerful keys that possessed the ability to unlock hidden dimensions and secrets of the universe. This responsibility had been passed down through generations, with each key keeper diligently fulfilling his duty. Edgar, however, had always been somewhat of a misfit in his family. While he possessed the knowledge and skills necessary to protect the keys, he lacked the natural intuition and wisdom that his ancestors had possessed. Instead of embracing his role wholeheartedly, he often found himself questioning the purpose and significance of his position.
While I am working on the Blood Harvest area I keep my eyes peeled for any Legion Events that are about to spawn. These take place every thirty minutes and are a great source of both experience and loot, so much so that I will leave the Blood Harvest area to knock these out when they are available. This creates a really good cadence of popping back and forth between the “Bloodtide” area as folks have taken to calling it, and then popping out whenever a Legion Event is going on. The community as a whole seems to realize how valuable these are now because I have yet to do one that did not manage to get the mastery objectives completed… which largely just means you are killing things quickly enough to get the mini-bosses to spawn before the final encounter.
The only complaint really that I have with the game is that there is some bug that is impacting my system where the entire game will lock up while playing I think it has something to do with network play and new players showing up on screen, but I can t be certain. Helltides as a whole need a complete rethink as well, and the World Bosses either need to be watered down again or turned into some sort of serious smaller group content that players queue for.
Instead of embracing his role wholeheartedly, he often found himself questioning the purpose and significance of his position. As time went on, Edgar's doubts grew, causing him to neglect his duties as a key keeper. He became careless and lost in his own thoughts, failing to properly secure the keys or maintain their powerful enchantments.
The Bloodtide Is Great
Hey Folks! I am still more or less mainlining Diablo IV each evening. The game has finally started to slow down a bit as I am now level 56 but it still feels like I am gaining experience much faster than I did previously. While I am not gaining core levels quickly, it does feel like I am chewing through Paragon points pretty fast. The only complaint really that I have with the game is that there is some bug that is impacting my system where the entire game will lock up while playing… I think it has something to do with network play and new players showing up on screen, but I can’t be certain. Whatever the case I’ve taken a few deaths from the screen locking up for 5 to 10 seconds at a time. This did not happen in previous releases so I am hoping this is something that gets fixed over time or can be attributed to server congestion.
I think what I am enjoying the most is that I have a very enjoyable mechanic loop going on where I start by popping over to the Blood Harvest zone completing the three Tree of Whispers quests available there. Generally speaking, there will be a quest to kill two Blood Seekers, and as I am working my way through the other quests I will inevitably anger the Vampires and get Blood Seekers summoned to take me out. Unfortunately, few players seem to be focused on the big zone event, so I can rarely complete that but I have noticed that when someone is attempting it the green horned skull icon indicating the Blood Harvest begins to pulse. I wish there was a less subtle indication that the event is going on, but it is better than nothing.
While I am working on the Blood Harvest area I keep my eyes peeled for any Legion Events that are about to spawn. These take place every thirty minutes and are a great source of both experience and loot, so much so that I will leave the Blood Harvest area to knock these out when they are available. This creates a really good cadence of popping back and forth between the “Bloodtide” area as folks have taken to calling it, and then popping out whenever a Legion Event is going on. The community as a whole seems to realize how valuable these are now because I have yet to do one that did not manage to get the mastery objectives completed… which largely just means you are killing things quickly enough to get the mini-bosses to spawn before the final encounter.
I am also keeping my eyes peeled for the next World Boss spawn, though these are honestly not as good as they once were. The difficulty of the encounter has been increased significantly which means they are no longer the loot pinata that they once were. As a result, there is FAR lower turnout for World Bosses and I’ve had several cases of once it started… and it was not immediately dying… folks bailed to do other things. On one hand, I get that players were frustrated by how easy these encounters were… but on the other hand, they require random players to know the fight in order to complete it. I think they are maybe a bit tuned for randos… and so far I have fought three bosses since coming back and only managed to down one of them. The others I kept fighting the entire 15 minutes but we wound up with like 3 players banging away in futility as folks bailed on us. If they want these to be challenging content they need to make them something you queue for and are locked into the encounter until completion.
One of the few problems that I see with the current state of the game, is that I have zero desire to actually engage with the “true” Blizzard-endorsed endgame. I’ve run a few Nightmare Dungeons, but my keys are piling up way faster than I am using them. Nightmare Dungeons are just not fun, at least not compared to Legion events and the “Bloodtide” area. The problem with this is that I am eventually going to have to run Nightmare Dungeons because they are required to interact with the Paragon sigil system and level them up. In order to gain the power contained in that system, I am going to have to force myself to grind them out and this just feels lousy. It feels as though you were forced to do Set Mastery Dungeons in Diablo III in order to get Paragon points or something like that.
Then there are the Helltides… which are now largely made redundant. The “bloodtide” area does everything that this limited-time event does… but does it better. Helltides are only up every two hours… and then if you take a death in the area you lose half of your helltide currency. The “bloodtide” on the other hand lets you drop in and play at any point and your currency associated with that event is additive over time so that your deaths really do not cost you anything. This all serves to make the Helltide feel weirdly punitive and not rewarding enough to make up for it. Sure you can target farm very specific gear slots… but you end up getting so many Seeker keys and you are generating so many Whispers Caches that I am not even certain that is needed functionality anymore. Add to this the fact that every time I have gone into a Helltide area… I was the only player doing them, which makes me think this is just an outmoded content type.
While I am “picking nits”, Blizz really needs to adjust the vendors to match the sweeping changes they made to Sacred and Ancestral gear drops. In the world, I am only seeing Sacred gear right now, which is amazing… save for Legendary items that often drop at base rarity but can still be recycled into either material or have aspects extracted from them. However when I go to the vendors, which should be viable sources of gear… it is all mostly baseline items. This is especially true for the Obol merchant, making that entire system even less useful than it was. Like Helltide… Obol gambling really needs a rework because at the moment I feel like the best option is just to buy keys when you need to spend down the currency. It is just a system that no longer really works with the way the game is currently played.
One legitimate concern that I still have is that I am uncertain if the game feels good right now because the base sandbox state of the game has been balanced, or that the Vampire Powers are just really strong. Path of Exile is in a phenomenal state right now, but it is more the base level of the game and less that any one league mechanic is better than the others. I feel like everything that I am enjoying right now in Diablo IV can be directly attributed to this specific season. Blood Harvest zones are amazing and Vampire Powers feel exceptionally strong… so much so that I do not want to interact with anything OTHER than the “Bloodtide”. It does concern me a bit that they have set up a borrowed power system that they are going to have to replace with something equally spectacular in Season 3, in order to keep the same elevated power levels and keep the game fun.
Diablo IV is very much a game in transition and still has some systems that are not functioning in quite the way that they should. I feel like the Nightmare Dungeons as a whole need a top-down rethink. They are just not fun, and the players really engaging with that mechanic seem to be doing so in degenerate methods that do not involve actually completing the entire dungeon. The most enjoyable part of the game… is not the part of the game that players will eventually be required to do in order to progress endgame systems. Helltides as a whole need a complete rethink as well, and the World Bosses either need to be watered down again or turned into some sort of serious smaller group content that players queue for. Maybe make the Open World spawns watered down, but drop an item needed to spawn a more difficult and much more rewarding version.
The optional bosses seem pretty cool and I have fought Varshan a few times now. Sadly he has dropped the unique twohander each time that I do not need, nor did it drop at a higher enough item level to use. I am hoping that I can keep the momentum going long enough to naturally reach level 70ish and transition into World Tier IV and be able to see the other optional bosses. Varshan requires you to collect three pieces and then enter a basement area at the Tree of Whispers, and I am assuming the three new bosses that open up in World Tier IV will be something similar. There is a tight synergy between the fun parts of the game which are keeping me going, but I am hoping with time Blizzard can make the largely unfun parts of the game like Nightmare Dungeons more enjoyable.
One time he stole this rare book of maps from an academy far into the frozen breakage. The whole place, columns, offices, catacombs, were carved out of a living glacier. But the freezing temperatures slowed his nimble fingers, and he was found out.
The consequences of his neglect soon became apparent. One fateful day, a group of dark magicians discovered the weakened enchantments surrounding the keys and saw an opportunity to seize their power for themselves. They devised a plan to infiltrate Edgar's home and steal the keys, knowing that his lack of attention would make their task much easier. Unbeknownst to Edgar, the dark magicians successfully carried out their plan, leaving him devastated and filled with guilt. He realized the gravity of his negligence and the potential dangers that could arise from the loss of the keys. Determined to right his wrongs, Edgar set out on a mission to track down the thieves and retrieve the precious artifacts. His pursuit led him through treacherous terrains, ancient ruins, and forbidden realms. Along the way, he encountered a variety of mystical creatures and faced numerous challenges, all testing his resolve. Despite the adversity, Edgar refused to give up. His unwavering determination pushed him forward, even as doubt continued to gnaw at his mind. Finally, after a long and arduous journey, Edgar confronted the dark magicians and engaged in a fierce battle to reclaim the stolen keys. Though outnumbered and outmatched, he fought with fervor and relied on his resilience to overcome the odds. In a dramatic climax, Edgar emerged victorious, successfully retrieving the keys and banishing the dark magicians. In the aftermath of the battle, Edgar realized the importance and significance of his role as a key keeper. He understood that his doubts and insecurities had almost caused irreparable damage, but his determination and willingness to make amends had saved the day. With a newfound sense of purpose, Edgar returned to his duties as a key keeper, vowing never to let doubt cloud his judgment again. The tale of Edgar, the unfortunate occult key keeper, serves as a reminder that even in times of doubt and adversity, one's determination and belief in oneself can lead to redemption and success. It highlights the importance of embracing one's responsibilities and fulfilling them to the best of one's ability, for the consequences of neglect can be dire. In the end, it is our actions and choices that define us, allowing us to rise above our past mistakes and step into our true potential..
Reviews for "In the Shadows of the Occult Key Keeper's Lair"
1. Susan - 2 stars - This book was a complete disappointment for me. I was expecting a gripping and eerie occult story based on the title, but it turned out to be the complete opposite. The plot was weak and predictable, the characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, and the writing style was unengaging. I struggled to finish this book and felt no connection to the story or the characters throughout. Overall, I would not recommend "Unfortunate Occult Key Keeper" to anyone looking for a thrilling occult tale.
2. John - 1 star - I have never read a book as poorly executed as "Unfortunate Occult Key Keeper". The premise had potential but was completely squandered by the author's inability to create a coherent storyline. The pacing was off, with long stretches of irrelevant descriptions and dialogues that added nothing to the plot. The characters were forgettable and lacked any real development. I found myself questioning why I was even still reading this book. Save yourself the disappointment and avoid "Unfortunate Occult Key Keeper" at all costs.
3. Emily - 2 stars - To say that I was underwhelmed by "Unfortunate Occult Key Keeper" would be an understatement. The writing felt forced and the story lacked originality. The author seemed more interested in showcasing their knowledge of occult symbolism rather than creating an engaging narrative. The numerous plot holes and unanswered questions left me frustrated and unsatisfied. I wanted to like this book, but unfortunately, it failed to deliver on its promise of a thrilling occult adventure. I would not recommend this book to anyone seeking a captivating read.
4. Michael - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Unfortunate Occult Key Keeper", but it fell short of my expectations. The plot was confusing and convoluted, making it difficult to follow along. The characters were flat and uninteresting, and I struggled to connect with any of them. The writing style was repetitive and lacked creativity. Overall, this book left me feeling disappointed and unfulfilled. I would not recommend "Unfortunate Occult Key Keeper" to anyone looking for a well-crafted occult novel.