February 2025: Part Three

10 February 2025

PC problems

Unrelated to wargaming but important given I use my PC to generate material for my wargaming hobby - batreps and design work especially. The current Windows 11 update, version 24H2, has been fraught with problems so I've been informed, and am now experiencing. 

Noticing problems whenever I switch it on every day to begin my session. Logins are slow. Thumbnails sometimes do not display on video platforms like You Tube. Errors logging in to my email accounts that take a while to resolve (either restart PC or wait several minutes). And those errors extend to the overall performance of the PC itself which can be frustrating and stressing.

Gaming issues are also affected although I suspect that one specific game that's causing me angst is itself contributing to the constant in-game dropouts. Tried another game and no issues whatsoever with performance in-game.  

But back to version 24H2, rolling back to 23H2 is one option but I am loathe to go that far. Do I wait for 25H2 to appear and hopefully it will remedy the situation? Don't know. I have learned that some criticize 24H2 because Microsoft has added spyware into the update. What's new though? Gmail engage in it as well. All major corporations do it so I believe. 

Recently has an IT specialist visited to sort out connectivity issues (wifi). He informed me of a US wifi extender would boost the wifi signal. It seems the connectivity issue concerned recent additions to our wifi network (added aerials to both the studio and garage workshop and this was causing the frequent connection issues as the PC was trying to connecting to the aerials instead of the router). Unsurprisingly, adding the USB wifi boosters has resolved the connectivity issue (along with some tinkering done by the technician). 

One good thing from this present situation though is that I can walk away from the PC and straight back into my hobby.

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11 February 2025

English Civil War

Slow progress but progress nonetheless. King's Foot almost done. 

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14 February 2025

Astartes II

The big question after the release of the teaser trailer is are Games Workshop going to stuff this up? The quick and cynical answer is yes. 

A quick look at those who have a vested interest over 3% (according to Games Workshop PLC) is interesting with all being investment entities. Link. Close 40% of the business is owned by investors. 

The current CEO of Games Workshop is a CMA or Chartered Management Accountant. So, a top-dog bean counter.

I have a sinking feeling that somehow Games Workshop will totally stuff this up; the degree by which is unknown but not promising. Look at how Disney screwed up the classic Snow White big time.

Same with Amazon and The Rings of Power. The list of recent stuff ups by commercial entities proves (to me at least) that many who oversee such creative projects often lack either talent or that degree of creativity to fully entertain the hungry audience. Or vision. Or their personal agendas come to the fore that often runs contrary to the needs or wishes of the vast majority. Reminds me of the dog chasing its own tail and going round and round but never quite achieving its goal. 

Happy (and dying to be proven so) to be wrong if Astartes II indeed meets and exceeds expectations. But given the recent kerfuffle among the community regarding female Custodes, and now the uproar over denying the mystical aspect that bone singing has in the Eldar culture, I somehow suspect the powers-that-be over in Nottingham really don't care for its own 40K history. Or its customers. Hence why I have serious doubts that Astartes II will be anything but a more diluted and Hollywood-ised version of Episode 5, The Secret Level. 

Maybe we'll see Titus head up the squad after surviving Episode Five? Or, better still, Leandros becomes head of the Kill Teams and sets out to "discipline" the Kill Teams to his world view and sends them on death missions much to the benefit of his secret sponsor, one of the acolytes of one of the Dark Apostles of the Word Bearers?

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16 February 2025

World of Warships

Haven't really bothered to take note of the recent developments through their blogsite apart from heeding the reactions by several YT streamers. 

The return of Classified Documents in Random Battle mode has not been well received by many veterans of the game. In fact, there is talk of migrating to Lesta, and a few YT streamers have actually gone over and returned with praise for Lesta's setup, citing new maps, clearer defined visuals, and so on. 

Complaints regarding the upcoming changes have been ignored - unsurprisingly - and WG continues to foist ridiculous designs (with experimental ships) upon the playerbase and expect many to embrace it happily. The more astute players complain that these new developments are designed to make it easier for newcomers to play with OP ships; skill no longer exists, and the playerbase continues to devolve into dumber than ever. Pay, pay, pay!

So far, I am unaffected as I stick with Co-Op, do my daily grind routine, and avoid paying for every new offer thrown my way. The current Battle Pass event celebrating the Lunar New Year has nothing of any real value. One new 10-pt commander (WTF?!) as the final reward and the T6/7(?) Huanghe Pan-Asian cruiser (which I already have) at the halfway mark makes it very easy to skip buying the second level altogether.

Nothing in the Armoury is worth it any more. I just grab what's for free and simply ignore the paywall events (Wishing Wharf, Early Access Dutch light cruisers, Ming's Adventure, and so on). I will await these ships eventual release into the Armoury either as a coal or doubloon premium. Or even wait until Christmas 2025. 

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