I can't tell you how often it happens that I'm wandering the streets of Stormwind, capitol of the Kingdom of Men, when someone will shout something very much like the following.
Why yes, yes I do know, Memnoch. Follow me. But let's take a step back first, so that everyone might know.
First of all, I mean, you have to get to Stormwind - the last bastion of human civilization. While some people use their feet for locomotion, and that's quaint, other people fly graceful lion/eagle hybrids and we do encourage that.
Pass through the main gate, and enter the Valley Of Heroes.
These statues honor warriors lost through the Dark Portal. In the distance, you can see the spires of the Great Cathedral I visit every time I return here. No enchanters here though, which means we're not finished yet.
Cross that bridge, taking note of the aerie where travellers land and leave on their flying mounts - in fact, it looks like someone is just arriving now. Hang a left, and enter the inner gate.
This is the bustling Stormwind Trade District, just as the sun is beginning to set. To the left, Pestle's Apothecary. To the right, The Cheese Cutters. I typically take the alley straight ahead past the cart, moving on to the Cathedral, but today I'm playing tour guide. At the first intersection, take a left.
Hopefully this picture and the last will give you an idea of how organic this city seems, even though it's as modern a place as you're likely to travel to. The ground is not uniform in the slightest, though the ground is clearly cobbled which gives one the impression that years of horse and foot traffic have made it this way. You and I are only going to see a very small portion of the city today, we won't be going to Old Town, the Dwarven District, or any number of other places. It's completely overwhelming on your first visit.
Take the next right, and then left through the tunnel.
It should open up right onto a bridge over the canals, and Memnoch's Enchanter Trainer is that cottage just to the right. No sign or anything, nothing really enchanted about the building at all, which is why I'd imagine people have a hard time finding it. It's just outside what's called the Mage Quarter, which is where you'd expect to find this kind of mystical crap. I mean, look at this place.
It's magical as all get-out. It's possible that Enchanters simply aren't welcome in there. Perhaps actual Wizards detest Enchanters in much the same way that an actual surgeon might revile the cast of a hospital drama, so this guy has to do his thing right outside it, like an eldritch scalper hawking vouchers for the supernatural.
In any event, there's your Enchanter Trainer - just outside the Mage Quarter, to your right.
(CW)TB out.
where everything is dark
What do you get when an English teacher in Japan prints out a bunch of PA strips with blank word bubbles and asks his students to fill them in? Well you get this and it's really fucking funny.
The final page of our four page Painkiller mini-comic is online (click on downloads). You can now read all four pages together in one sitting, which is what I'd recommend.
Thanks for all the great mail about our PA Presents projects. I'm curious though, once we wrap up Farcry and Splinter Cell:PT what games would you like to see us do next? I made a forum thread for you to post your ideas in. Obviously Tycho and I have some ideas but I'd love to know what you guys want to see.
-Gabe out
But the impact of these systems, games, and toys was still largely theoretical until I got this mail from Emma at the Children's Hospital.
I wanted to let you know how appreciative we are with the wonderful donations this holiday season and share some exciting news. We just recently placed a gaming system in every room in the Ronald McDonald House! This was a total of 80 systems. What a gift it is for our many patients who have moved from home for their treatment. Thank you again for all of your support. I hope you realize how truly thankful we are.
Emma Misner
So that's pretty great.
(CW)TB
