Posts by Captain Krompdown

  • How did Guild Wars treat you today?

    Jan. 12 is always a great day.

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    On this day 13 years ago, [PhD] was founded with the simple mission of preserving the history of our game, as manifested in its items. Today, the guild is as active as ever -- filled with a vibrant mix of new members (who bring fresh perspectives on the game's beauty as well as fascinating collections) and crusty old knobs like me and Kabong. Through the years and all of the inevitable changes, [PhD] remains home to many of the finest collections, rarest relics, and most respectable collectors in the game. Thank you to everyone who wears the cape so well.

    <3Happy 13th birthday, [PhD]!<3

  • Museum posting and customization

    Agreed. It doesn't really matter whether your item is uncustomized, custo'd to you, or custo'd to someone else. The same commonsense standards apply. Specifically, if an item is gonna be shown as part of your collection:

    • The item should be owned by you.
      • If you feel the need to fluff up "your" collection by displaying borrowed items, then the owner should be acknowledged. Possession is not the same as ownership. Credit should be given where credit is due.
    • The item should be exhibited intact, as it exists, including full information (item name, all stats, including extra damage from custo and custo name, as well as gold value).

    Pretty simple. Let's try to keep it real from here on out :thumbup:

  • Museum posting and customization

    ...and yet we point to Gandhi (and not the guys with guns) as an example of our higher strivings. This implies an implicit framework by which certain ideas are judged as more highly developed than others.

    To me, this whole thing is simple:

    • Display things you own
    • Display them intact, as they exist, not just the convenient/flattering parts
    • Be honest

    These are basic standards. To pretend that there aren't is dishonest, lazy, and (if applied in the real world) dangerous.

  • Museum posting and customization

    So...embarrassing *again* for you?

    Sorry, Pleikki, you've pissed in the pool. Expecting others to continue swimming in it is asking for a strange kind of "respect". :rolleyes:

    If you don't own an item (regardless of who is custo'd for), it's not part of your collection.

    There's all kinds of sloppiness in the original collections thread. This was our chance to do better -- to make a true museum for the game, as it exists now.

    Sorry.

    EDIT: Well said, Bluey . Disagree about the dedication bit but that's a minor sidestory.

  • Museum posting and customization

    Maybe there is just a misunderstanding? That is the most charitable interpretation I can come up with.

    As Pyro mentioned, your statement that you're posting "items from friends" that you hope to replace for yourself can be interpreted in many ways. The easiest/most likely interpretation of that statement is that you've borrowed items to help fill out your collection. This is obviously different from ownership.

    Another easy interpretation is that maybe you bought them for a special "friend price" with the understanding that the item would be returned when you found your own version. Is this the case? If so, that is a rental -- not ownership.

    An interpretation involving legitimate ownership is more difficult to reach. Again, that is because of how your statement is worded. Maybe a friend legitimately sold you an item that they want for themselves as a favor (to help you build your collection) and you'd like to pay them back by replacing that item. That's totally possible (and reasonable) but it doesn't fit easily with what you said. I'm trying to be charitable here so I'm asking whether ownership is the issue or if your statement itself is the issue.

    Perhaps you're so confused by the reactions you're receiving because you don't understand the message that you're sending out. Maybe you're not addressing this issue because you don't understand that you may have misspoken. Or maybe you're not addressing it because you're hoping that people will be distracted and just forget about it. As Pyro said, some clarification of that statement would be helpful.

  • Kromp

    Quote from Shaya

    i offer 5e plus a dedicated temple guardian for that q7 cele sword +5e.

    I bought that cele sword for 100k+35e back in the day off of Guru. Nobody beat that bid and the seller followed through, so here we are ^^

    That sword -- complete with its ribald moniker -- usually stays with Kabong's mesmer as part of the sparkliest set an old IW mez could ever hope for:

    Q7%20Celestials.png?raw=1

    Since I have you here, Shaya  zxc , I can answer your question about Teh Axe more directly. The item that I miss most dearly from that deal is the Req 8 15 stance crys in the shot below. Every other item in this shot either has appeared or will appear in this thread. That crys, however, has moved on. It was 1 of 7 top-shelf items to be traded in exchange for Teh Axe. Some of those items were recovered while others are sorely missed. That crys is the one that I miss the most.

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    I was never a big fan of the crys skin but I miss being able to make this set. Like I said, it was 100% worth it to bring Teh Axe home. I'm not into ripping people off for their prized possessions or trying to convince them that I'm their friend so that I can get what I want from them. I had the chance to acquire a unique item and I paid a unique price. It was the right thing to do :heart:

    It's also worth noting that, even though I love this shot (for many reasons), I removed it from my collection thread because I no longer own that sword. There's a lot of weirdness going on with people posting items that they don't own (or don't own anymore) or presenting them as if they're uncustomized when they really are custo'd. It's a weird kind of lying/misrepresentation that doesn't belong in this forum. We're here to display collections, not memories or fantasies :D

    So here's a new version of that shot, along with some Req 8 trinkets that Kabong and I keep in the drawer by the door ;)

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    EDIT: I no longer own the req 8t 30/-2s bladed shield shown in this pic.

    More to come. Thanks for dropping by :*

  • How to get proper weapons?

    Mods can be salvaged off other items/random drops arnd are widely available, both here and in Kamadan.

    Here's one (random, recent) thread from the sell section that has some things you might be interested in:

    WTS OS Weapons | Weapon Mods | Caster Swords | Q8 Focus

    Or feel free to get in touch in-game. If I have what you need floating around in storage, you're welcome to it.

    Good luck equipping your toons -- it's always fun getting that just right ^^

  • Kromp

    Here are some things that Kabong and I have managed to keep around the guild hall, mostly for guests ;)

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    EDIT: I have recently traded away 2 of the swords seen here. The req 7 15/-5 plat blade and one of the req 7 15^50 gladiuseses are no longer mine.

  • Kromp

    Glad you enjoyed the tale, zxc. Sorry it made you shed a tear ^^

    Thanks for the kind words about the collective collection Kabong and I have built over the years. It's been a labor of love and a great thing to do together with my womb-mate. There will be more of it coming soon.

    In the meanwhile, I've edited my original post to include an interesting set of req 8 Magmas shields, magnificently captured by a shadowy mastermind/artist and his assistant mastermind.

    Enjoy!

  • Kromp

    Quote from Shaya

    Really nice - what I am missing right now is the Story behind "The Axe" though. Do you remember how you got it and from who for how much? :D

    Oh, I remember.

    The Axe spent the first 2-3 years of its existence with Sir Spil, a major early collector and frequent resident of the grassy knoll in Lion's Arch. At some point, Spil quit the game completely and handed his account down to a friend. Spil's friend (whose name I won't give here) was interested in accumulating wealth for his own purposes and, with Spil's blessing, sold Spil's treasures off to collectors that Spil deemed worthy. I was fortunate enough to be one of two names on Spil's list. I came away from our several trading sessions broke but in possession of several treasures from the earliest days of the game. Jason XII -- a friend and one of my first and best officers -- however, came away with The Axe.

    Much like The Ring of Power, The Axe slowly drove Jason insane. Once he owned The Axe, the game became boring for him. He started taking all kinds of risks for no reason, maybe just trying to feel some kind of excitement again. He would put The Axe in trade windows and pull it back just before the other person took it from him. He began abusing his reputation as a trade mod and got himself in some pretty hot water. Eventually, Jason knew his days were numbered. A permaban was coming and, just before the hammer fell, he handed the axe off to "some random." Nobody knew the name of the person holding The Axe but the prevailing opinion was that Jason managed to unload it before his account was annihilated.

    There were rumors about who might be holding The Axe, but they were all dead ends. After a while, The Axe's new owner emerged. Luckily, this "random" player (whose name I also won't give) had protected The Axe. Not only that, but he also understood and appreciated the mission of [PhD] and felt that The Axe belonged with me. We discussed possible deals a few times but couldn't quite settle on anything. One day, I got myself a nice pile of marijuana, plopped myself on the couch, and convinced myself that today would be the day. The Owner and I negotiated a trade. I won't go into specifics but I will say that I handed over a trade screen full of absolutely top-tier items -- enough to be the centerpiece of a historically great collection -- in exchange for The Axe. I took the weapon out of The Captain's hand and the shield off of his arm and included those items. I gave The Owner a "grand tour" of my storage and allowed him to pick out his heart's desire, like a kid in a candy store. It hurt but it got done.

    Over time, I was able to recover some of those relics. Others are still sorely missed, but it was worth it. The Axe is not a burden to me, like it was for Jason. It is a thing of beauty and a source of both pleasure and pride. While it's true that other items might seem bland in comparison, that is a small price to pay for the pleasure of looking in The Captain's right hand and seeing the single most important item that the game has ever produced. Perfect and pristine, as it was at its creation.

  • Max Borken

    Truly an all-time great -- as a collector, a guildie, and a leader in the community. You are 3-in-1. A Tyrian Trinity. Let's just take a second to savor The Mystery of The Borken.

    As a collector, you have assembled, preserved, and protected some of the game's rarest and most spectacular relics. What you have built is simply impossible for anyone else to ever replicate. It's not that it would take a lot of work or patience to replicate your collection. It is simply impossible. This is It.

    As a member of [PhD], you have risen through the ranks to become the longest-tenured officer in guild history. This is the Guild Wars equivalent of the Lucasian Chair at Cambridge -- a prestigious seat, previously occupied by such legends as Rahl The Outlaw, Chaos Kurupter, Stza Erza (RIP), and Jason XII. Long ago, you scratched your name into the armrest and permeated the velvet cushion with your distinctive musk. May it never be dented by other buttocks.

    As a member of the community, you have worked tirelessly to provide all of us with a home and resource through which the game continues to thrive. Literally none of us would be here without you.

    These shots are spectacular (the artist gets all the recognition he wants but not nearly as much as he deserves!) but all they are is one more opportunity to celebrate everything that you've contributed to our little world. A job well done, Max. Time to head back to the hall for your afternoon snooze by the fireplace. I'll microwave you some tea.

  • Duskblade

    Agreed. Don't listen to "experts" or to any of the brand new friends you might've suddenly made :D

    If you decide to sell, post it here, accept only public bids, and take your time.

    Congrats on the beautiful sword and good luck :thumbup:

  • Your Beloved Collections

    Quote from Woo

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    A sunny day in October. A rare wander off the icy cobbles, as Hilda finally managed to assemble her favourite heavy accessories. As per tradition, only possible with the greatest of help from fellow scholars in Teh Academy. She does you no justice, @Captain Krompdown, but she does admire you.

    Woo

    The Captain is 15 years old and doesn't understand this new feeling. It's not anger but it will require all of his strength.

    I think he just ran off to make a mix tape ^^

  • Museum feedback & suggestions

    Quote from PyroLobster

    not even added the whalekin wands yet :D

    waiting for that! ^^

    Invokeur It sounds to me like there's a lot of insecurity, maybe a little bit of blaming others for your feelings, and a teensy bit of accusing others of the things you're afraid they might do (to you?) sprinkled on top. Why?

    We all started in the exact same place -- dead flat broke. Any of us who didn't start collecting on Day 1 started from behind, looking up the skirts of those who started the ascent before us. I would guess that includes everyone who will ever post a collection on this forum. Along the way, we are all helped by others and help when we can. We all learn from others and teach when we can. We follow our noses to whatever we consider interesting, beautiful, or worthwhile and work (somehow) toward those things. That's the story of every collection and of every collector. I hope you get around to telling yours...that's half the fun :heart:

  • "Right" and "Wrong" Order

    For me, I think it's about how I think of the shield. When I get a shield that has 30 health on and -2 dmg in a stance, I'm more likely to think:

    "This shield has 30 health on it and it also gives me -2 phys dmg in a stance."

    Than

    "This shield gives me -2 phys dmg in a stance and it also has 30 health."

    I would guess that whatever mod is more valued or gives the shield its defining feature (in the eyes of its owner) is the one that goes on top. For me, that's always going to be health. The 30 is the more valuable mod by far. +30 with any second mod is a good shield, especially if it's heavy enough. But there are relatively few ways that a shield can be top notch (in my book) if it starts off with -2 stance (for example). I'm guessing this has something to do with it for me.

    That and penises and stuff 😂

  • Kromp

    Once upon a time, I came out as a collector of extraordinarily large shields. At the time, it was a retirement hobby and a little bit of a joke -- something to amuse myself with whenever I found myself back in the game for whatever reason. It's bizarre to think that it's been about a decade since I picked up my first extremely heavy shield and instantly fell in love.

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    Since then, I've amassed well over 100 massive shields. Here are 70-something of my favorites :heart:

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    So many people have helped put this together. ObsidiaN shares my love of the big scary face shields of all kinds and his generosity is on display here. MaxBorken contributed several pieces, including that 30/-2s bladed, which is a favorite :heart: PyroLobster tracked down that monster tower shield and was kind enough to send it my way, along with several more obscure combinations :D  Red Fireball kindly allowed a couple of unusually gargantuan red rectangular shields to end up here. After only light badgering, Purely let me give a loving home to his magnificent undead eternal. So many others have also lent a hand. Sanctus  @ardunain  End and many others. And Kabong has tolerated all of it while tracking down several hefty specimens^^

  • Kromp

    Red Fireball I like that req 8 20/20 pre-nerf boner as much as you do. It was a dream item for me. And I'll make you a deal. I post some offhands and you post your big red collection of big red shields. Deal? Ok deal. Here we go.

    I always liked staves more than wand/offhand combos. When I was actively buying up necro stuff, my focus was really on 20/20 staves. The wands I posted before and the offhands below were kind of incidental and accidental. Unfortunately (for me, I guess), the 20/20 staves didn't age as well as some of the other items here. When I was grabbing necro stuff, 20/20 dragon and plat staves were top shelf stuff. These days, they're overfarmed and have devolved into run-of-the-mill collector items. For that reason, I haven't included things like platinum or celestial staves. The shadow staves are here because I don't see a lot of complete sets like this one. Zodiacs and dragons are here because they're probably my favorite skins for my primary nec. The stuff that has really stood the test of time are the pre-nerf staves -- which are in southwestern quadrant, covering up Mr. Spooky's ankles and kneecaps (he's so self-conscious about his joints down there but will show his elbows to anyone who will look). Hope you enjoy.

    Blind Was My Fury The images are from a cursed filmstrip of Camille Saint-Saens' Danse Macabre. Kabong and I had an elementary school music teacher who would show this thing every Halloween. It's still as terrifying today as it was all those years ago. For anyone who might be interested, you can watch the whole thing here (warning: spooky). I recommend setting up a safe place to sleep before clicking the link. Our story begins at the stroke of midnight. You'll hear the 12 chimes from the church steeple. Soon after, we have the apparition of Fiddler Death, who orchestrates the evening's festivities. The party goes all night, until the rooster crows and the sun rises. It's awful :D

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