Merry Christmas!

Ashwynn and I wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Shared Topic: Pet Peeves

This week's Blog Azeroth Shared Topic is Pet Peeves, suggested by myself, of course. See other responses to this topic here.

My personal pet peeve is trolling in trade chat, and its the main reason I keep /2 turned off most of the time when I play now.

What I can't stand is people who blatantly say something controversial or stupid solely to draw attention to themselves or to start an argument. These are the people who bring up Hitler, rape, or suggest that no girls play WoW. These are the people who make general assumptions about other players based on absolutely no true knowledge, calling others bad, fat, no lifers, etc. These are the people who flat out give incorrect information to people asking a question or for advice.

My Personal /2 History

You see, once upon a time I was one of the regulars in trade chat  and on the forums for my server, of course this was a long time ago, before transfers were allowed on or off of the server. Trade chat was typically somewhat interesting, if often kind of stupid, but rarely degenerated to anal spam or worse. I'm one of those who actually finds the Murloc movie game rather fun and interesting (until people start repeating things that have already been said). I'm all for a little debate in trade, over, for example, which class makes the best healer and why. I look forward to a little friendly banter in the chat channels.

I have to admit that I miss the idyllic world that I had prior to the opening of transfers. Maybe I'm looking at it through rose-tinted glasses, but I think the overall feel of the community on our server, both in trade and on the forums, was much better prior to that fateful day. The flood of people, both leaving and arriving, was truly shocking. This caused a dramatic change in the feel on the chat channels and on the forums.

Then, because of the change in atmosphere on the realm, I decided to leave for a while too. I transferred my main to a different server for a few months and discovered that the grass was definitely not greener. It's really funny because I'd heard from many of my friends who had left that they found their experiences on other realms to be far superior. I have no idea what their criteria was though. To me, the gauge of quality to a server is its trade chat, and I was appalled at what I found elsewhere. I ended up transferring back to Cairne, and I don't regret it for a moment.

Although the trade chat can often degenerate into horribleness, every so often you run into a semi-intelligent conversation, and that's what makes it all worthwhile. Afterall, part of the draw of playing an MMO for me is that Multi-player bit. Perhaps I take the social aspect of the game too seriously, but I don't think I'd enjoy the game as much without it.

When I am in trade nowadays, I make it a habit to point out trolls to other players. I remind people not to feed the trolls, and sometimes will say things like, "Obvious troll is obvious." Every once in a while a troll will catch me in his trap, and once I realize it, I laugh it off and say, "I gotta learn not to feed the trolls." Hehe. I've even gotten into arguments with people over whether they are trolling or not.

I think maybe some people would say that I am a troll myself, but not by my definition. I know that trade is intended to be used for only trade, but I'm not a stickler for that rule. If I was then I'd be pissy about all of the people LFGing in trade.

What Trolling Says About Society

The amount of trolling I see in game and across the internet frightens me. It makes me doubt my faith in humanity (not that I had much to begin with). It really makes me wonder if our world is really worth fighting for. This is why trolls bother me so much.

I'm one of those people that firmly believes in The Golden Rule. When I see someone trolling it tells me a lot about that person. It tells me that they have no respect for other people at all.

I guess I just can't understand why it would be fun to deliberately hurt others. What would happen to the world if we all behaved like that all of the time? You see it sometimes in extreme cases of road rage. I wonder how far off before we start behaving like that to others in person? Once that happens, how far off is the fall of our society?

Morbid thoughts for a Tuesday morning, I know...

The 20 Days of World of Warcraft: Day Fourteen

Healer, tank or dps?


Healer, healer, healer.


I feel seriously out of my element when I'm not able to heal myself. I've struggled to try to play as a tank and as dps, but I've always come back to healing.

My first toon to make it to high level was a Warlock. In retrospect, I now know what types of toons are more easy and more difficult for me to play. Warlocks were and still are very hard for me. I did try my hand at tanking via a Paladin that I promptly abandoned after reaching level 80, and a Death Knight that still isn't even level 80. I'm currently in the process of attempting to learn to be a dpser (see my many alts).

Since I'm no longer focusing on end game raiding but more on the journey, I think that my time as purely a healer may have come to an end. That said, as a dpser or a tank, my primary goal is always survival, whether it be in a raid or pvp setting or just out questing. There's a reason why I tend to follow roads rather than cross country. The lessons I learned leveling my squishy Priest as Holy stay with me still. Never pull more than one mob or a quick death may ensue.

Better Than WoW Bash

I used to be one of those who frequented WoW Bash, reveling in the stupidity of others and generally enjoying the silly things players say, as well as the occasional GM joke. But over the years I feel the quality of the humor and the frequency of updates at that site has degraded, and not just because my submissions are always rejected, although that hasn't hurt my sentiments. So, without further ado, I present my newest column, "Better Than WoW Bash."

And for my first entry, I present:

Spelling Fail 101:

I welcome any and all submissions for this column. Feel free to e-mail DramaSpec at AIM dot com

Cataclysm: For the Horde?

Following yesterday's post about factions, I decided to hop on my idle Troll Druid and completed the quests in Stonetalon Mountains. Potential SPOILERS ahead, proceed with caution. If you have not yet quested through Stonetalon Mountains as Horde, I would highly recommend it.

The 20 Days of World of Warcraft: Day Thirteen

Which faction are you “for”?

This is actually the hardest question for me to answer, especially now. If you had asked me prior to The Shattering I would have easily said that I'm For The Horde, even though my mains are Alliance. Now, I'm not so sure. I need to play out the rest of the Horde story now to really come to a conclusion.

Things are in a lot of turmoil, and it really feels as though Garrosh and Sylvanas have really lost it. I've all but stopped questing on my Troll Druid, mostly because I really don't like killing Night Elves.

We find out in the Worgen starting area that Sylvanas is still producing and using The Plague. No more blaming it on Putress. I'm horrified, but morbidly curious, and I just don't know how to feel.

I keep trying to explain it away by saying to myself, "How would you feel if you'd been through all that Sylvanas has?" I still have a glimmer of hope that her humanity still exists in some small way, else what was all of that nonsense with the "Lament of the Highborne?" Maybe it's time she had a sit down with her sisters. Maybe that would do the trick. By the way, where the eff are Alleria and Turalyon anyway?

I'm working my Worgen through Darkshore now and am anxious to get to Ashenvale to see what the quests are like on that side, to see if the Night Elves really deserve the hate the Horde is giving them.

I started a Forsaken. I was brought back to life by a Valkyr. I have to go around and attempt to recruit the undead who were killed at Southshore to join the Forsaken. Big Brother (or should I say sister) says you have a choice to join the Forsaken or not, but really... do you? Is death really a choice? Why are there Valkyr aiding the Forsaken?

I'm not sure if all of this really makes me For The Alliance. There's a kind of romance to playing the villain. Are the Horde the villains of the game once more? I don't really know the answer to that question. Until I do I have no answer to this question.


Note to Blizzard: WTB Neutral Faction.

Cataclysm: My Worgen

What do you mean this outfit makes me look like a magician? I am a Mage.

What about the hat and cape?

No! I am not going to pull a rabbit out of my hat!

Not so funny now, is it? I dare you to say it again.

Cataclysm: My First Dungeon Run

Well, I decided to break my rule and run a dungeon on Viva, even though she's not 85 yet. I decided to do regular Blackrock Caverns before I couldn't queue for it on regular anymore, and consequently reached level 84 at the end of the dungeon.

I queued up using the LFD tool, and was grouped with a bunch who were also doing their very first Cataclysm dungeon, so none of us really knew what we were in store for. It was an interesting run, considering we were all rather new to things. We wiped once if I remember correctly, so all in all, not too bad.

The biggest change is mana. Where did they put all my mana? It just slips away so quickly now. I don't quite have to drink after every pull, but usually after every 2 or 3 pulls, depending on the amount of damage the mobs are doing. Its definitely interesting to heal now.

No more just spamming Rejuvenation and throwing the occasional Regrowth and Swiftmend. I'm not really exactly sure what I should be doing, but I don't know if keeping Rejuv up is really a good thing, as it seems to be consuming a lot of mana.

I'm actually thinking about going back to my Priest, just to see how the dungeon healing is on her. The main reason I want to try this, is just to get a real feel for it. I haven't been playing a Druid for very long. I don't know all the tricks and tools I should probably know. I know all that stuff on my Priest. I'm scared though, because I keep hearing that Priests are suffering worse than other healing classes from the mana crunch.

I just think I'd be better able to cope with the change on my priest. Back when mana mattered, back during BC, I prided myself on managing my mana well. Can I cope with the changes now?

I don't know all the answers to these questions, but I guess I'll find out. I think I'll just keep questing on my Druid for now, though.

On a somewhat related note, one of my friends who almost solely plays DPS classes/specs said this to me: "They made it so it's much harder to play a tank/healer, and much easier to play as DPS."

I don't know if I necessarily agree with him. What do you think?

Cataclys-meme

Janyaa at Muradin Musings has posted a special Cataclysm Meme, and I could not resist.

1. Disk or Download?

Errm... It's complicated. Technically download. Basically I changed the settings in my WTF files in advance to allow Cata to download via the launcher, then it was just a matter of getting the CD key.

2. Did you experience any difficulties? IE: Login servers crashing, late delivery, etc?

No issues whatsoever, unless you count the multitudes of people milling about ruining my immersion, but we all knew that was going to happen.

3. What are you doing first? IE: Speed leveling to 85, rolling a new race, completely avoiding the new content, etc?

I am experiencing the new high level content, slowly and methodically going through every zone, avoiding dungeons, and occasionally taking a break by messing around on a Worgen and Goblin. In other words, rather than speed leveling, I am slowly leveling to 85.

4. Mt. Hyjal or Vash'jir?

Mount Hyjal, hands down. I did both of these zones consecutively, but I started in Mount Hyjal. Both zones are beautiful and the quests are well-constructed, but I'd say that Hyjal is a little bit easier to cope with just because it is not underwater.

5. Worgen or Goblin?

Both!

6. Questing, dungeons or both?

Questing and avoiding dungeons until 85. I know this may not be the optimal way to do things, but its the way I'm doing it.

7. What was the first piece of gear you replaced and with what?

The very first thing I replaced was my Mag'hari Chieftain's Staff with a Repurposed Twilight Stave. I know it is perhaps a side-grade rather than an upgrade, but I was beyond ready to change gear.

8. Did you take any time off from work or school?

I'm currently unemployed, so the short answer is no. I have continued working towards finding work even as I play, and I have a few promising leads. Cross your fingers for me.

9. Will you be keeping the same spec and main, or changing to a different toon?

I had decided already that my main would be my Druid in Cata, and so it is. I've been leveling Boomkin, and have yet to try out healing as I haven't been in any dungeons yet.
 

10. What's been your favorite aspect of Cataclysm so far?

The story has been the best thing. It's been so easy to get completely into the story and forget about everything else. All of the stress about hurrying up and leveling, the concern about keeping up on professions has gone right out the window in favor of just enjoying the game solo for what it is.

Shared Topic: Real Life Intruding on Game Life

This week's Blog Azeroth Shared Topic is brought to us by DragonRay at Azerothian Life.

Do you think your real life job affects how you see people/situations in game and do you use the same methods in game you would use at work to diffuse situations? For example are you the type to just boot people/leave guilds because this is a game or would you try and sort it out considering you wouldn't just fire someone/quit your job if someone/or situation was being nasty?
The post on this, as well as other takes on the question can be found here. 


To me, the title of the topic and the actual question could be two completely different things.

The Question

I think the actual question here really boils down to how a person views him/herself. We each put forth different personalities and different faces for every situation we are in. We may have a different mask for work, than the one we show to our family, than how we act when we are alone. All are facets of our one true self, but some are closer to the reality than others.

To me, this question almost seems foreign to me (or backwards). My work self is definitely not the true me. I feel much more at home and willing to be myself in game than I do at my workplace (or anywhere else out in public). The methods I use at work to diffuse situations are more likely to be adapted from things I have seen or done in game or that have worked in family or personal situations, than for my work behavior to migrate home. My true identity lies closer to the gamer than to the employee.

In the true sense of myself, I am a polite, friendly, honest, but passionate and stubborn person. This is projected into everything I do, whether it be work, the game, or this blog. I would not "just leave a guild" because one person pissed me off. The time I have spent guild hopping, I have agonized over each decision. Sometimes I don't communicate my concerns to guild leadership or others, and then perhaps it appears that I am "just quitting." The reality is far from the truth.

I do think that when it comes to guild management that some of the lessons of corporate society can be beneficial. The use of applications and interviews is one of these, but they are only useful up to a certain point. The bottom line, the game is just that, a game. You are not paying people a salary to show up on time and prepared for raids, they have to want to do that, either as a benefit to the group or for themselves. For that reason, the work analogy simply breaks down at a point, and it should. Afterall, who wants to come home from work just to go to work for their guild?

The Title

Real Life intruding on Game Life.

What does that phrase even mean?

Do these terms even mean something different?

Sometimes I think that I am living on some other planet apart from what "normal" people experience. Maybe it's because I am a shy introvert. Maybe it is something else, some misfire in my brain that makes things slightly skewed.

Personally, I don't find a lot of difference between Real Life and Game Life. There are jerks in both parts of my life that rub me the wrong way. There are friends in both parts of my life that make things wonderful. Is one better than the other? Is Game Life less real than Real Life? Obviously it is to the extent that it is virtual, but the connections we make with other people, the emotions we feel, the joys and the disappointments... Are these less real than Real Life experiences of the same things?

I could keep digging, because the feeling I get from other people I speak to about this, is that I am mentally disturbed to be so entrenched in a game to feel this way. I'm not talking about interactions with NPCs though, I'm talking about the other players in the game, the connections we make with them. This, to me, is the heartbeat of the MMO genre, and I think it is beautiful.

I've felt this way since I stepped into my very first BBS. The internet, since it's inception, has been breaking the barriers of physicality. Sometimes the connections we feel for people in this virtual world seem far more real, simply because we don't have to worry about all of the physical signals we might get by being truly with that person. We can dig deeper, see more clearly, learn more, by pushing past the judgements the world places upon appearance.

The danger of these connections is dishonesty, and it is out there. I'm one of those that is willing to brave this possible disaster than limit myself to my own corner of "Real Life" and miss out on so much more of the world.

In the end, my Real Life intrudes upon my Game Life, and my Game Life intrudes upon my Real Life. Both, to me, are really just my Life.

Are you with me, or am I just insane?

Cataclysm: More Silly NPCs in Vashj'ir

I've finally moved on to Deepholm, but I bumped into an NPC towards the back end of leveling through Vashj'ir that just desperately needed sharing.

Humphrey Digsong can be found in the Abyssal Depths outside of Darkbreak Cove, clinging desperately to a large shell on the sea floor. The brothers Digsong and their buoyancy issue has to be the most hilarious thing I've seen in the new expansion yet. If you didn't bother to read the optional text, you should. I was literally laughing hysterically for several minutes. Although he only gives quests to Alliance, he will tell his story to either faction. I sure hope we bump into his brother Oskar again.

Cataclysm: Scariest Thing in Vashj'ir

I was just swimming around, going to hunt some crabs or some other menial task, for we survivors have to eat something. All of a sudden I saw some movement out of the corner of my eye. As I approached I realized it was some sort of giant sea creature. Then its eyes turned upon me, and I was struck with momentary terror. I thought I'd accidentally bumped into an Old God. I actually swam away as quickly as I could. I was frightened out of my mind.

Later, the shamans of the Earthen Ring told me that inside this creature was where the naga had taken our captured friends. It turns out Nespirah is no C'thun, even if her eyes look like his. The eyes still creep me out, but I guess she's just Old, not a God, right?

Cataclysm: About Ambivalence

Traxy over at I Like Pancakes wrote an interesting post about feeling ambivalent about the game right now. I have to say, I can understand where he's coming from.

With Cataclysm's initial release, my bestfriend and gaming partner plowed ahead of me, doing the whole playing right at midnight and staying up for 36 hours or something, rushing to get higher level. He's 85 now. He's told me that he felt rushed through some of the questing where he would have liked to see the lore. He's been running 5-mans with his guild and working to get geared up, and eventually he'll go back and see all of the story on one of his alts.

With him shooting out ahead of me, I was kind of left at a loss of where to begin with Cataclysm. Being guildless, I don't really have the urge to rush ahead and get raid ready right away. After a lot of thought, I decided I would level up my main first, but that I would do it slowly, my way, taking in all of the story and enjoying it.

Boy, am I enjoying it. I think it helped that I went to Mount Hyjal first. The lore there is just incredible.

Traxy made mention of a lot of quests being the kill X number of things, or gather X number of things, and that's true. There are still a lot of those kinds of quests out there, but the difference I'm finding is that if you read the quest text, there are good reasons for killing things or gathering things. Interspersed amongst these quests are the meat and potatoes of the storyline. I find the story to be far more seamless than it once was and its very easy to get immersed in it.

It's kind of funny to me, the choices I've made in playing since Cataclysm launch. In the past I've tried very hard to keep all of my professions at about the same level as the zone I'm in, taking them all up gradually at the same time. I haven't thought more than once about my cooking or fishing skill. I want to skill them up, but the pull of the story is too great. I keep thinking I should go back to Stormwind and work on it, but then I get some amazing mission to complete and I can't be bothered. I've been back to Stormwind twice since I first stepped into the newest zones. Once on the insistence of my partner, and once in between Mount Hyjal and Vashj'ir.

As amazing as the story has been, I have my concerns about re-playability. As Windsoar at Jaded Alt has said in her post about Vashj'ir, the story line is very linear. There's not much option to not do a quest that is distasteful to you and still continue with the chains that are needed to complete a zone. Once you've done a zone, you have most likely seen all of it. I guess we've said goodbye to those random hidden quests that are so awesome to just stumble across (I'm looking at you, quest to get the Sprite Darter Hatchling).

I haven't set foot in any dungeons yet. I'm kind of afraid to. I don't want the story to be broken up by a random dungeon. For the same reason, I haven't started Archaeology yet. It looks awesome, but I'm terrified that its going to engross me. All I'm going to want to do is go to dig sites and uncover ancient ruins and fossils. So I'm saving the dungeons and the Archaeology for after I'm 85 and have completed all the zones that I wanted to.

That's my biggest regret from Wrath, I never did quest much in Icecrown. On all of my toons I would hit 80 long before making it out there, and then would jump right into the gear-up to raiding. I could have taken the time out and done it, but by the time I realized that I even cared about it, well, it was going to be too difficult to get back into the swing of the lore. I'm not making that mistake in this expansion. Every zone will be completed by at least one toon.

I have made a Worgen and a couple Goblins that I haven't even gotten out of the starting zones with yet. I still have my alts in the back of my mind. They creep into my thoughts when I'm not playing, because when I am playing I can't be bothered to do anything else but see what happens next.

I almost feel as though the Shattering patch came out too late, but the expansion itself came out too early. I could have used a little more time on my alts. I was having a blast leveling slowly through the re-vamped zones. Now, although my focus is on 80-85, I still feel greatly conflicted. Will I remember where my alts left off once I'm done with the high level stuff? Will I end up starting all over with a new stable of alts? Time will tell.

Between the desire to keep up with my friend, the desire to see all of the story, and the desire to see an alt through the newly re-vamped world, I was feeling ambivalent too. I actually fluctuated for a while considering not even purchasing Cata right away (mostly due to money constraints).

On the urging of my bestfriend, I realized that I wouldn't be happy if I didn't keep up with the story. I've been pretty close to spoiler free this whole time. I have no idea what is in store for me in Deepholm or Uldum and beyond. Heck, I have no idea where I'm headed even in Vashj'ir, and that's the way I like it. If I'd waited to get Cata, I think I probably would have ended up seeing or learning about things that I really wanted to see first hand.

Thank you, Spellpower, for pushing me in this direction, and for getting me the expansion. I've had more fun so far than I can even put into words, and there's still so much more to do and see.

Ultimately, my major goal for the expansion for now, is to get Loremaster on both a new Alliance and a new Horde toon. So far, I haven't been making any progress towards that, but that's ok. If my judgment is correct, I have approximately 2 years to get it all done, and without worrying about raiding it shouldn't be an issue.

Cataclysm: What's Going On?

Well, Viva is currently level 82 and making her way through Vashj'ir.

She doesn't actually ride the seahorse often, because, well, she's a druid. OMG! I get to use my water form! SQUEE! While I'm not sure I'll ever get completely comfortable with the 3D environment that is underwater, I am finding it absolutely beautiful. Every time I pop out of one of the underwater caves I'm stunned all over again at the beauty of the ocean.


Best NPC so far? Well I'm torn between Budd and The Great Sambino. While Budd might be completely insane and obsessed with shinies, I think Sam wins this one. Only a goblin shaman would do such strange things to his elemental companion.

Cataclysm: On Gear Replacement

I have only just reached level 82 on my Boomkin/Resto druid, but I've already replaced the majority of my Wrath epics. Granted they weren't super-awesome Item Level 277s, but 251 isn't that far off. Maybe some of these choices were not the best, but gosh darn it, I was ready for a change. The biggest difference has been losing gems and enchants, but I've kind of decided to disregard that stuff for the time being. Afterall, gems and enchants can always be re-applied at level cap.

Let's take a look at an example, my pants. I'm currently wearing Treegrip Pants (quest reward from the quest I posted about yesterday), which replaced my T10 Lasherweave Legplates.  Looking purely at stats, the Treegrip Pants are a definite upgrade, but when you factor in the loss of gems and spellthread, not to mention tier bonuses and socket bonuses, it really isn't an upgrade at all.

The thing for me is that now is about immersion, and I lose some of it if I don't get new gear from quest rewards. I know that's pretty illogical on my part, but one thing I've learned over the years of playing the game, you gotta play the way you want to. Viva is fighting on the front lines of the battle to save Azeroth, and she should look the part. The spiffy armor she is now sporting feels very martial for me. She finally looks like a soldier to me.

Her next stop is going to be Vashj'ir, so who knows how she's going to be feeling about the leather once she's in the water. More to come.

P.S. Still WTB an option to hide Shoulders!

P.P.S. PANTS! (For those of you in the know.)

Cataclysm 80-85: Quest of the Day - Mount Hyjal

Well, the race to 85 is on, and I spent my day leveling Viva through Mount Hyjal.

I have to say, my favorite quest today was The Bears Up There.

I mean, even Keeper Taldros says the plan cannot fail, so it must be fool proof. Nevermind that I'm climbing a tree to grab a baby bear that is terrified because it's home is on fire. Nevermind that I'm supposed to toss them GENTLY on to the target to get them to safety. Nevermind that the Keeper had to momentarily "pacify" Momma and Papa bear.

Wha? Huh?

Yeah, you may have noticed I took my Blog Azeroth post down. They switched the thingies on me. So that post will be re-posted next week.

The big news around the block is Cataclysm. Duh.

Or, if you're a precious little teeny-bopper that likes to read crap on webcam and then blow kisses, Ca-Tackle-ism (found via The Instance). If you guys missed that little bit of Youtube drama, well, I don't think there's any getting it back.

Basically it was a beautiful teenage girl reading a blurb from the Wowiki site about what Cataclysm is, in which she speaks as though she reads at a 2nd grade level or poorer, and mis-pronounces Cataclysm. She posted it, took it down, reposted it with a little blurb about how she mis-pronounced Cataclysm, then took it down again.

What an idiot. Seriously. If you are going to do little "news" blurbs on Youtube, you should at least be able to complete a sentence so that it sounds natural instead of pausing every other word. I could forgive the bit about mis-pronouncing Cataclysm, but the whole thing was trash. The only thing that could redeem her at this point is if she came out with something saying that she does these kinds of videos as a joke to mock bimbos.

I'll be posting a real post later (read tomorrow) about my real thoughts on Cataclysm.

The 20 Days of World of Warcraft: Day Twelve

Suggest any idea for Blizzard that they could put in the game.

So many ideas...

Well, let me narrow it down to just one. One simple request that I don't think should be too difficult, one easy little thing that almost every other MMO has, one area where Blizzard has fallen atrociously behind.

OMG! WTB MOAR AND BETTER CHARACTER CUSTOMIZATION!!!111WTFBBQ!!!!1111


I don't normally resort to all caps/leetspeak, but this one kinda deserves it. I feel like many of us have been begging for this forever, and they just don't listen.

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that the newer races (Draenei, Blood Elf, Goblin, and Worgen) get very nice updated models and a few more choices in faces and hairstyles, but I want more. The appearance of the older races is abysmally out of date and very limited in choices. When games like EQ2 and LOTRO can afford to include fairly detailed choices in faces, skin tones, eye color and hair styles, why the heck can't Blizzard do the same thing in WoW? I thought Blizzard was the king of MMOs?

It's not just about player character model appearance though, it's also about gear customization. The idea of the overcloak was a step in the right direction, but then they went back on that promise. Based on the Blue posts in the overcloak thread linked above, it appears that Blizzard just doesn't like the idea of customization. It's disheartening to know that no matter how many posts, Blizzard just doesn't listen to those of us who really care what our toons look like. I'd settle with even just the addition of being able to hide more pieces then just helm/cloak (see shoulders, gloves, belts).

Blizzard representatives will tell you that the reason they don't implement these things is because they'd rather focus on producing a good game. I'm ok with that. I'm beyond happy with the game. This is why I still play. What I don't understand is why we can't have both. Maybe those of us that actually care about what our toons look like are the minority, but when other games have moved so far beyond the simple choices Blizzard has implemented, why can't Blizzard get with the times?

The 20 Days of World of Warcraft: Day Eleven

Ama watches on as Jezz practices her torch tossing

Favorite WoW Holiday

Warm thoughts for a cold and snowy weekend (at least where I am). My favorite WoW Holiday is the Midsummer Fire Festival. There are a couple of reasons for this. The biggest is that it reminds me of one of the people I met in game that has most influenced my life, Jezzabell. She was a my best friend and my light when I was going through a very dark time in my life, and I am ever thankful for her companionship. We spent a lot of the in-game holidays together, but the Fire Festival is the one that stands out most to me. We spent it together, just the two of us, running around Azeroth, honoring the Alliance flames and dousing the Horde. We attempted to kill Ahune every day we could, but somehow each time we failed (this was the first year he was introduced, and we were not prepared).

The best things about the Fire Festival?

Toasted Smorcs - I suppose these are rather caster specific, but who can resist smorcs?!

Torch Tossing - There's nothing more fun than juggling fire!

Brazier of the Dancing Flames - What can I say about this awesome prize? If you thought the Piccolo of the Flaming Fire was awesome, just wait til you see this! No one can resist dancing with a hot Draenei!

Searing Scorchling and Frigid Frostling - Non-combat pets ftw! I only wish the two would fight when both are out in the same area.

The Frostscythe of Lord Ahune - New this last season, the scythe is perfect for us Death fans. Who doesn't want to wield a scythe?

The Midsummer Reveler set - Hot! Hot! Hot! (Ama wears this set above in the blog banner).

Crown of the Fire Festival - Add this to your Midsummer Reveler set and you're even hotter!

This is by no means a guide, just my list of favorites about the holiday (which ended up being just about everything). If you're looking for a guide, Wowhead has you covered.






P.S. I can't wait til the Ice Stone has melted... again.

The 20 Days of World of Warcraft: Day Ten

If a level 3 called “yurmom” asks you for gold, you say/do?

I love this question! I have actually answered gold beggars with tirades about how back when I started my first toon on Cairne, the server was brand new, only open to rerolls. Nobody had gold to give anyone else. We all quested and used the auction house and made our way through it. There wasn't anyone to beg from. I'm like the crazy old woman talking about trudging to school 10 miles in the snow uphill both ways. They say, "Plz! Just 1g." I keep ranting until they put me on /ignore.

The 20 Days of World of Warcraft: Day Nine

Which race/class combination are you most like in RL?

As far as race goes, this is an easy one. I'm most like a dwarf. I'm short, "big boned," friendly, but no-nonsense, and stubborn as a mule.

The choice of class is much more of a challenge. In RL there's no way I would be killing anyone or anything regardless of how deserving, unless I was put in immediate danger. Even then I'm not sure I trust my fight/flight instinct. This fact kind of makes me think none of the class choices would really suit me.

I think maybe Shaman or Druid is the class I would most like to be, deeply spiritual and in touch with nature, able to heal, but also able to fight. I think the Mage is more what I truly resemble. I'm rather bookish and intelligent. I love reading and learning. I'm a bit overly cautious to ever try playing with fire or the arcane though. In ways, I think I'm a bit Rogue-ish in that I like to hide in the shadows and watch the world go by. I'm incredibly shy. I've never stolen a thing in my life, though.

In short, I'm a Dwarven Magshadrugue.

Stormshield: Tha Beginnin'

I been piratin' off o' tha Borean Tundra pretty much fer a few years. I know, it ain't quite right stealin' from tha people goin' ta battle tha Lich King, but a gal's got ta make a livin'. Things got real quiet once Arthas be sent ta Davy Jones' locker. Once tha bulk o' tha army be back ta where they come from, both Horde an' Alliance, there weren't much ta do.

I be takin' a break from tha old heave ho, an' be spendin' mah days fishin'. I made up a kinship with tha walrus people, whadaya call 'em? Kalu'ak? They taught meh some o' their fishin' tricks an' I was obliged not ta hornswaggle 'em when I had goods ta trade. They even gave meh a li'l 'ol penguin they found on some iceberg somewheres as a friendship gift er somethin'. They had some right good herb they smoked in their pipes too. I wish that stuff grew everywhere... Anyways, what were I sayin'?

Oh yah, meh an' Bucko (that's what I call tha penguin) be relaxin' an' fishin' an' havin' a blast, but things be real quiet, almost too quiet. Tha Kvaldir wasn't even raidin' no more. An' then tha waves come. I been a freebooter fer as long as I can remember and I ain't never seen no waves like these. There be waves an' waterspouts an' then there be tha water spirits too.

Bein' a Storm Caller mehself, like meh mother before meh and her mother an' on down tha line, I done meh best ta calm tha spirits, but they wasn't happy and wasn't nothin' I could do. Tha waves was bigger'n Ironforge mountain itself, an' they be poundin' tha ship ta smithereens, an' I thought fer sure I be ready to feed tha fish. I be goin' down with meh ship, but Bucko didn't have ta go with meh. I kept tryin' ta shoo him away, but tha bilge-suckin' fool wouldna leave meh.

Last thing I remember be tha mast fallin' an' I be half runnin' an' half swimmin', Bucko at meh side, then somethin' hit meh in tha head an' tha lights went out. Next thing I know I be surrounded by these li'l runts with all these gadgets an' doodads an' I dunno whatall and meh head on fire with tha pain.

That be how I met Fangle. He be tellin' meh ta sit still fer ta heal meh up. How's a gal supposed ta sit still when she been through all that? I didn'a know where I was er who tha li'l buggers was, nor what had happened, and I guess I still don't.

These li'l guys be sayin' we just fell from tha sky, but that can't be true, can it? Some way Bucko made it here with meh, an' Light's Truth that be a miracle, sure an' true. Light knows how I got here, but I be thankful he be here too.

One thing I do know, that Fangle be a darn good healer. He done fixed Bucko an' meh up right good. Tha only trouble be he's takin' a likin' to meh, an' goes with me everywhere. It ain't all bad, but I ain't rightly sure he knows what he be gettin' himself into. I ain't exactly an angel from heaven. I be happy ta have tha company though, as Bucko don't say much. Har Har Har!

Who's That Alt: Introductions

It's no shock that since The Shattering I have been playing new alts. Here's what I've been up to:

Wangle Quickeye: Private Eye: SI:7 operative in training

Wangle went directly to Westfall after reaching level 10 in Dun Morogh, and has assisted Horatio Laine with the investigation of the murders occurring there. She is currently stationed in Lakeshire, Red Ridge.

Kizzey Stormshield: Storm Caller: Pirate Wench

Kizzey apparently was swept off of her ship when the Cataclysm hit. She awoke in Dun Morogh surrounded by gnomes. She has since made friends with a gnome priest (of all things) named Fangle.

Amatzi Drumfury: Dances with Cats: Voodoo Lady

Amatzi is the highest level of any Horde toons that I've leveled. At level 24 she is currently in Ashenvale assisting with the battle against the elves. As a Druid she is not very happy about this situation, but the Orcs have been fighting this battle for a long time, they must be right. Right?

The 20 Days of World of Warcraft: Day Eight

Favorite guild name you’ve come across?

Well, my favorite is my own little bank guild name: <Specced for Drama>. Ashwynn is the Drama Queen of said guild (and its only member). I've never actually seen a true guild by this name. There is one other on the armory, and it looks to be another bank alt guild.

I have a few others that have rolled around my head. I have a tendency to come up with clever ideas for guild names, despite never intending to actual create one. The most recent idea is <Prime Numbers>. The rankings would be by prime number of course, the GM being 1. Guild motto would be: "We're indivisible."

The 20 Days of World of Warcraft: Day Seven

Favorite companion non-combat pet?

Again, another one that is no contest. My favorite non-combat pet is definitely the Pandaren Monk. I actually only got this pet a few days ago (thank you, Spellpower), but I already knew it would be my favorite just from seeing others with them. The karate moves and the little Hee-yah's make him really unique.

If I got to pick the next playable race and class I would definitely pick the Pandaren for race and the Monk for class. I know that it will never happen though, since China will not allow sales of the game if it includes pandas.

If we exclude the pets that can be bought at the Blizzard Store, then next on my list would be the Sprite Darter Hatchling, which apparently is no longer obtainable since the quest is gone.

The 20 Days of World of Warcraft: Day Six

Favorite dungeon and why?

This is no contest for me. Karazhan is my favorite dungeon. It is the first dungeon larger than 5-man that I ever did. It was the place where I truly learned what it meant to raid, what it meant to be a part of a large group working towards the same goal. My first raiding guild trudged slowly through Karazhan, struggling to get through Moroes, where I learned how to Shackle. Heck, we wiped on trash... a lot. I remember wiping to Maiden because we couldn't master the dance of getting in and out of her Holy Ground or be immobilized by Repentance. The anticipation of which Opera would be playing this week. Oh, the humanity of Flamewreath! Although I've heard it is possible, we never wiped on the Chess event. I can remember screaming INFERNAL as we heard Prince boom, "You face not Malchezaar alone, but the legions I command!" Lady RNG saw fit for those Infernals to always land in the worst possible place.

At that time in my WoW life, I did not know much of the lore. Fighting through the crazy atmosphere of Karazhan is part of what led me to study and learn more of this world called Azeroth. If WoW were life, Karazhan would have been my coming of age, blossoming into adulthood. This is the dungeon that made my Priest the great healer that she once was, this is what made me the decent player that I am.

I've since gone back at level 80 and made my way through Kara again, but it is just not the same. There is something absolutely horrifying about being able to essentially 2 or 3 man what was once a huge challenge for me. I have no idea how many times I ran Kara with my guild back then, but I think it was a lot, a lot more times than I ran ICC. The difference is that I never got tired of Kara. I don't know if it really is better designed than ICC or if it is just a growing up thing. I've done the dungeon farming thing enough now that no matter how well designed, I just don't want to farm anymore, maybe?

Vivaciously Yours: New Druid Form?

Viva doesn't much care for the new Druid Tree form, so she's trying something a little different. 

Introducing Druid Shrubbery form

New and Improved: Stay in form while mounted!

In case you're wondering where this is found: The quest to start the chain that leads to Druid Shrubbery form starts here and continues here.

SPOILER ALERT! ---Amusing but spoilery anecdote behind the cut. Enter at your own risk.---

The 20 Days of World of Warcraft: Day Five

The meaning behind your mains name?

I've done this before for Amaranthine. With the change of my main, I guess it is time I explored the reasons I chose the name Vivacious for my Druid.

Let's start at the beginning (that's the usual place to start). Ever since I realized I loved healing, I've thought it would be a good idea to eventually have one of every healing class. After my Priest hit max level I started working on a Paladin and a Druid. This was somewhere towards the end of BC after my raiding guild blew up. I had named my Draenei Paladin Vivacious and my Night Elf Druid Effloresce.

I'm not exactly sure where the name came from. It just popped into my head as I was creating her. I was listening to some techno at the time and I gave her the adorable pigtail haircut and imagined her a bouncing little raver Draenei. Vivacious just fit. I worked on and leveled Vivacious the Paladin intently up until Wrath was released. I think I left her somewhere in the late 40s early 50s when I leveled Ama up to 80.

Sometime mid Ulduar I grew weary of my raiding guild and essentially stopped raiding on Ama and focused on my paladin. For some reason, at that time, I thought it would be wise to give her a name change. So the Paladin became Levity. I was still quite attached to the name Vivacious though. So I deleted Effloresce and created a new baby Druid named Vivacious.

I am so glad I started the Druid over as Vivacious. I was mortified when I found one of the new Resto Druid abilities in Cata was Efflorescence. I couldn't have tolerated having a character with essentially the same name as a spell. I see the grief my friend Spellpower gets over his name. He chose that name before there was such a thing as Spell Power, but we all seem to forget that there ever was such a thing as Spell Damage.

I think Vivacious is the perfect name for a healer, as it means lively or full of life. That's what healers are, that's what they do, they fill themselves and others with life.

The 20 Days of World of Warcraft: Day Four

Favorite Emote and the best situation to use it in

I thought long and hard about this one because some of the best emotes are truly the ones that you come up with on your own using the /emote, as Sven has so beautifully put. So, I am going to take this question literally and tell you my favorite built-in game emote.

For those of you who know me this will come as no surprise. My favorite emote is /flirt. Some of the races flirts are just so silly you have to laugh. My favorite (pre-Cataclysm) is the Draenei Female flirt: "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?... Good. Bring ample supply of butter and Goblin Jumper Cables." Here's a list of all the flirts (Goblin and Worgen are included in case you're spoiler free).


I've found the best situation for flirting is with characters of the opposite faction when you're just trying to quest and be peaceful. Often they will /blush or /smile or even /flirt back, completely distracting them from attempting to kill you. Perhaps this power could be used for evil, and I could lull them into a false sense of security and then go Rambo on them, but that's not me.

PuG Fail: Pit of Saron

When you see that screen that says this instance is already in progress, sometimes you really should just run far, far away.

I entered Pit of Saron, looking at Ick and Krick, and the first thing I see is a spastic kitty druid saying, "GO!" I buff Mark, as no one has it (apparently kitty druids can't buff), and the tank pulls.

The kitty was of course the first one to die to Poison Nova. We went through 4 Poison Novas, and 4 deaths (I b-rezzed one person and they died again). Longest Ick and Krick ever. No wonder the original healer bailed.

I didn't know Poison Nova was that difficult of a boss mechanic to grasp. Granted, I could cleanse it and I did. The tank got Poison Nova every time and I kept him alive, but the others were a bit squishy, and apparently too focused on "putting on the cd."

Well, I thought maybe it would be ok, but as we approached the first group of trash mobs heading up the hill the tank expressed his concerns.

It is one thing to be selfish and keep dpsing through damage. It is something else entirely to be a level 80 mage and not know that you can polymorph in all specs. After this little gem one of the more silent dpsers "DCed" and did not come back.

This was just too much for me and I left after that pack was dead. I like to think maybe this ragtag little group got a third healer and made it through the dungeon. In truth, I think the odds are against it. The worst part is knowing that the tank and the kitty were both from my server. Oh well. At least I've found another guild to avoid like the plague.

Shit My Friend Says: Fountain of Youth?

Me: What are you doing?
Spellpower: Well, Jaina is on Kalimdor among all the Night Elves and she is the most beautiful human in the world. I think her secret is that she bathes naked in the Moonwells when no one is around.
Me: /Facepalm

The 20 Days of World of Warcraft: Day Three

Lament of the Highborne by Jiao Qiao

Favorite NPC

I know, everyone's favorite NPC is Sylvanas. I'm going cliche and generic on this question, but its because she truly is my favorite. I think I've mentioned before (maybe on my old blog) how I always love the tragic hero. I almost chose Arthas as my favorite NPC, but I just couldn't do it. Afterall, he isn't really a hero.

She's strong and intelligent and resilient. She died attempting to save her people. She bested the Lich King and his mind games, freeing herself and the rest of the Forsaken. After all of this she is not numb, she can still weep over the fate of her people, but still lead with an iron fist. Despite what happened at the Wrathgate, I still love her.

Blizzard obviously loves her too, hence the beautiful music scene. Here is the official video that Blizzard released during Burning Crusade.

Amaranthine Dream: To Smite or Not to Smite

I've felt the Smite pressure so immensely that I didn't even really give Disc a fair try without Archangel. I kept hearing from everyone around me that all healing priests will need to take Archangel for the mana regen, even Holy priests. At which point I kind of gave up.

Meandering around the blogosphere, I ran into a post at Murloc Parliament about just this. I stand in solidarity with you, Zel. I'm respeccing once Cata hits into something I feel more comfortable with (less Archangel unless there's no better choice). I will play the game the way I want to. That's what I did in BC. It's what I did for the most part in Wrath. There are other ways to maximize mana regen than using Smite. I will find these ways or die trying.

All is not lost. While I still feel that Viva will be my main, there is still hope on the Priest front.

Goodbye Old WoW

Me and Spell spent last night doing silly things that were, in the grand scheme of things, unimportant. Things like:

• Running Zul Gurub for the last time (still no mounts).
• Getting the 251 shield for his pally from Princess in the elemental earth portal. 
• Making sure all of my toons are not in Dalaran (except for Viva who is intent upon fishing up more coins, but her hearth is in SW).
• Coming up with names for our new gnome duo (Fangle and Jangle it is).
• Dancing to the tune of "It's the End of the World as We Know It" in Stormwind Park

Time to make a new screenshot folder for new WoW, otherwise I might get confused. And maybe it's time for me to delete all the screenshots I have saved from NWN. It's been over a decade. Time to move on? I am the antithesis of a packrat in RL, but my virtual self is incredibly cluttered, from my desktop to my WoW inventory. For some reason I just don't want to let go. I even still have the very first screenshot I ever took in WoW of my very first toon on her very first flight between Thelsemar and Ironforge. I don't even remember what that character's name was. >_<

We've come a long way, baby.

The 20 Days of World of Warcraft: Day Two

Favorite race and why?

Once again, I'm limited to just one?

This is a very complicated question for me. To even begin to answer the question, I took a look at all of my current toons across all realms. The vast majority of these are fly-by-night low-level alts that I made on a whim. Perhaps looking at what race I choose most often based on whimsy is a good place to start.

Alliance:

• Night Elf - 4
• Draenei - 2
• Human - 2
• Dwarf - 1
• Gnome -1

Horde:

• Blood Elf - 5
• Undead - 2
• Orc - 2
• Tauren - 1 
• Troll - 0

I wasn't really surprised by what I found. I have 5 Blood Elves and 4 Night Elves. Aesthetically my choice will always be elves. They are both beautiful and thin and elegant in appearance. My love for these races ends there. In fact, more often I've been leaning away from my elven proclivity. The shocker for me is that I have no Trolls. I have made Trolls in the past. I guess they have all fallen by the wayside. I was also kind of surprised to see that my Horde to Alliance ratio is 1:1. Hooray for being fair and balanced (and not the Fox News way).

When it comes to roleplaying I find elves more difficult to play. For the purposes of roleplaying my choice will typically be Dwarf or Undead. I love the lore surrounding these two races and the personalities these races typically have.

All of this aside, one of my altoholic goals is to have a high level character of every race. Currently, my high level toons are 2 Night Elves, 2 Draenei and 1 Human. I will have a high level Horde toon... someday.

So... my answer is: ALL OF THEM!

Icelica's Resting Place: The Quest for the Perfect Blade

This week's Blog Azeroth Shared Topic is The Perfect Weapon (suggested by yours truly). Here's my answer for Icelica.

The search for the perfect weapon for my fledgling Death Knight was truly a quest in and of itself, and a perfect way for me to delve a little deeper into the psyche of this troubled toon. I began with limited ideas, only knowing that Icelica prefers swords over other weapon types, being a Blood tank, of course that would mean a 2-handed sword.

I thought I would end up with a much longer search and in the end only come up with ideas that would lead me to forming my own weapon with its very own story. I was mistaken. Never underestimate the power of WoW to offer something for everyone.

I began by searching Wowhead, taking a peek at each and every 2-handed sword listed. I saw Ashkandi, Greatsword of the Brotherhood, and thought it was beautiful, but it wasn't quite right. What does Ice care about dragons? Right now her mission is vengeance, an end to The Scourge. Then I saw the Twinblade of the Phoenix, and found it beautiful as well, but too delicate for Ice. She'd be worried it would shatter at first use.

 Finally, I found the Runeblade of Baron Rivendare, and it is beyond perfect for her. It is a runeblade, perfectly suited to her as she is a Death Knight. She will have to go through Baron Rivendare and countless Scourge to get it. There's nothing she would like better, and it will be a well earned prize, to go along with her Blood armor. My only wish is that it would be more useful. Maybe some day Stratholme will be revamped to Heroic, and drop max level loot again. I can't really complain, as the Blood armor is her RP outfit anyway.

Rest assured, she will own this blade, and there will be a great story to tell of her victory against Rivendare (now if only I can get him to drop his mount at the same time).

A Death Knight's Tale: A Minor Victory

We are many, so many of us only just re-awakened from the nightmare that was His control. We march for Acherus, for Mograine, for revenge.

By the time I reached Acherus the Hall of Command had already been retaken. Mograine advised that while He had escaped to Northrend, He did leave behind a mess for us to clean up on the central floor.

As we made our way into the Heart of Acherus, I could feel the thrill of the day coursing through my body. I was anxious to exact some kind of revenge even if I couldn't reach Him directly yet. The changes to Mograine left him a fierce and strong commander and his fury spread to all of us. We felt invincible.

The stench hit me first, then the buzzing of flies. Being undead this is not something unusual, but it did forewarn the extent of the force awaiting us. As I entered I could see a large army of abominations and Val'kyr, and at their center Kel'Thuzad's own avatar of war, Patchwerk. Could we really take on this behemoth?

With a unified roar we surged forward to cut into the army of lesser abominations and Val'kyr, our runeblades sinking into rotting flesh. As we began working our way through his army to reach him Patchwerk asked, "Death Knights come play?" I felt a hook in my back and a chain drawing me to one of these creatures that had not yet been engaged, the pain numbed by the fervor of my desire for vengeance, I fought on.

I brought my blade up in a quick movement, slicing through the arm that held the chain and hook. The flesh golem's arm went limp and I felt some relief from the pain in my back. There were still two other arms to deal with. I blocked and dodged the wicked cleavers held in those hands, searching for the perfect moment. These beasts are not wise and often leave themselves vulnerable to attack; their only thoughts are of destruction, not their own well-being. The moment came. The creature swung both cleavers towards me. I ducked and both it's weapons were caught in the wall. As it struggled to free them, I steeled myself to the task at hand and plunged my blade up into the creatures gut, twisting to ensure I'd take out any vitals.The creature let out a noise similar to flatulence as its body disintegrated above me, covering me in gore.

Over the din I could hear Kel'Thuzad's creation say, "Why you want hurt Patch?" I almost felt sorry for the thing as it was obviously confused by the situation. We had once been on the same side. We had all once been Scourge.

Our numbers overwhelmed them quickly and soon it was all over. We were victorious. The Ebon Hold was now ours. I wouldn't call it a bloody battle, but it certainly was a mess. It will be much work to clean the place up.

Many of my comrades fell this day, but I will not shed any tears for them, just a slight regret that it wasn't me in their place. My will is consumed by the need to put an end to His nightmare reign. It is not much to live on, but I will fight until I see Him dead or until I am no more.

Time for a quick stitch up of the wound on my back and a long shower.

The 20 Days of World of Warcraft: Day One

Favorite class and why?

Really? Do I have to pick just one?

If someone had asked me this question a little over a month ago (before Patch 4.0.1), my answer would have been easy. I would have easily said priest. It's kind of ironic looking back at things now. When the changes to priests happened between TBC and Wrath I was worried then that I wouldn't like them. Even throughout Wrath I often would say that I still wasn't sure if I was playing Discipline right, and still wasn't sure if I liked what Blizzard had done to priests. In retrospect, with the experience of having seen the new LolSmite Disc spec and having tried to use it, I can firmly say that I loved what Discipline was throughout Wrath, I just didn't recognize it. In the immortal words of Joni Mitchell, "...you don't know what you've got til it's gone."

This leaves me with quite a bit of a conundrum as to favorite class. I'd like to say druid, because I am loving both my Resto and my Boomkin specs, plus there is still more to learn (I could be a bear or a kitty still). There is so much versatility in the druid class, it's almost mind-boggling. The healing in Resto is absolutely fabulous. It plays very fluidly, there are choices to make and it isn't just rotation, rotation. And Boomkin.... I can't say enough about Boomkin. This is my first true dps spec that I've enjoyed. I understand it. It's easy, but complex enough, and I love the pretty Power Auras.

All of this aside, I think I could find the same things in other classes. I am a true altoholic, and I am looking forward to experiencing other classes and other roles. I am absolutely loving my Blood DK, and I went into it very skeptical because I've struggled to tank in the past; despite my nervousness tanking I fell in love.

While I am loving my DK and playing her most at the moment, I think right now my answer has to be druid.

A Death Knight's Tale: Touched by The Light

"Stand down death knights. We've lost. The Light... This place... No hope..."

I awoke to these words on my commander's lips, my body forced to kneel before the power of The Light. I glanced over myself and my fellows, all wet with the rain mixed with the blood of those we had slain. I listened as the paladin spoke the truth of our situation. I watched as the realization of what had happened came to Mograine's mind. I saw Him appear before us, dark and deadly and powerful as always. It had all been a game, a ploy to lure Fordring out. We were all just sheep before the slaughter, a tool for Him to use.

I watched as The Light cleansed Mograine's heart as well as his weapon, the Ashbringer. The glow of The Light was blinding, radiating warmth and life. My heart and mind were cleansed by its power. The image of Tirion Fordring wielding that wonderous weapon now cleansed of all taint is branded in my mind.

Would that we could cleanse Frostmourne too. Would that He could return to us as the child He once was. What has been done cannot be undone. He can no longer be mended, just as I can no longer be whole. Too much has happened.

All memories before this moment are indistinct. I do not remember my life before undeath. My earliest memories are of His voice, deep and dark, echoing through my mind, commanding me to kill or be killed. I remember a blur of frenzied violence and slaughter, and then this miraculous day when this monstrous killer was touched by The Light.

I am not healed. I am not whole. But at least now I am no longer under His control. All I have known of "life" is violence, and that is all I still know. My body aches to fight, and so I will allow it, but now I am my own. I decide on which side I fight and I have decided that He must die.

I join with Mograine and his Knights of the Ebon Blade. As Mograine has said, "We must make amends in the only way we know how: Death..." And so I march with my brothers and sisters to retake what is rightfully ours, to reclaim Acherus, our Ebon Hold.

The 20 Days of World of Warcraft Challenge

 I'm not sure where this came from, but someone found it here. Apparently it's been seen around (dirty little MEME). Of course I couldn't resist. MEME's are my kryptonite; I'm powerless to resist them. Day One, coming soon to a blog near you.

Day 1 - Favourite class and why?
Day 2 - Favourite race and why?
Day 3 - Favourite NPC?
Day 4 - Favourite Emote and the best situation to use it in.
Day 5 - The meaning behind your mains name?
Day 6 - Favourite dungeon and why?
Day 7 - Favourite companion non-combat pet?
Day 8 - Favourite guild name you’ve come across?
Day 9 - Which race/class combination are you most like in RL?
Day 10 - If a level 3 called “yurmom” asks you for gold, you say/do?
Day 11 - Favourite WoW holiday (e.g Brewfest, Childrens week)
Day 12 - Suggest any idea for Blizzard that they could put in the game.
Day 13 - Which faction are you “for”?
Day 14 - Healer, tank or dps?
Day 15 - Favourite Battleground and why?
Day 16 - Favourite quest/quest chain?
Day 17 - What do you do when the server’s down?!
Day 18 - Post your favourite Screenshot.
Day 19 - How many hours do you play a week, roughly?
Day 20 - Where would you be now if World of Warcraft never existed?

Shit My Friend Says: What Kind of Mill?

With the loss of my guild and the change of blogs the Stuff My Raid Leader Says column has disappeared, but I do have a replacement. Postings will be every Thursday (unless I'm lame and forget). Posts not limited to just one "friend"

Spellpower: Why do they call it Tauren Mill? There's not really a bunch of Taurens in it.
Me: /Facepalm

Lil' LK!

My friend and I were chatting whilst I was running through my blogroll and reading all the juicy tidbits of the day. Then I cam across Redhawk's most recent post, which was highly amusing (except for the bits about Diablo because I don't play it).

When I got to question number 34 which contains a suggestion for Blizzard to create a Lil' LK non-combat pet that casts Defile on critters. I was super excited and thought that was awesome, but Spellpower had an even better idea.

He suggested that Lil' LK should have the ability to kill and then raise critters and create a mini-scourge. Although it would be a model and texture artist's nightmare, can you imagine running around town with a bevy of skeletal squirrels and bunnies following you? So much win!

All My Minions: Imp-proper Behavior

Ashwynn: Come here, Biznip.
Biznip: That is not in my contract!
She glares at him, tapping her foot impatiently.
Biznip: Oh wait...
He pulls a well read sheath of papers from thin air and reads.
Biznip: Uh, I guess it is.
He capers over to her, doing handstands and flips as he goes.
Biznip: What's up, boss?
Ashwynn: Was wondering if you could head over to Stonebrow's and pick me up some Eternium Thread?
Biznip: Aww, sure, send the little guy. That thread weighs about as much as I do!
She pokes his belly.
Ashwynn: Looks as though you could use the exercise. This sedentary life is making you weak.
Biznip: Look who's talking!
Ashwynn: Well, excuse you! Would you rather I send you back to the Twisting Nether for a bit?
Biznip: Err...
Ashwynn: Kraknak always obeys me. Perhaps it is past time he became my minion of choice.
Biznip: Awww. C'mon, boss, you know I'm your favorite. I'm your first. And besides, you know you love my back talk. At least I'm not truly rebellious like that succubus of yours.
Ashwynn: Disynn may be unruly but she has her uses.
Biznip: ...in bed. Heheheh!
Ashwynn: Biznip! Hush!
Biznip: Fine. I'm goin', I'm goin'.
He scampers off, trailing a wisp of felfire.

Ashwynn: Minions! Can't live with them. Can't live without them.

Icelica's Resting Place: Home

Last week's Blog Azeroth Shared Topic was Home Sweet.... While I am quite a bit late on this one, it sparked ideas in my mind. Each of my toons will be making an appearance with their ideas about what home means to them. Here's where Icelica considers home.

 I do not belong in this world. I died long ago. I should have rotted in the grave long ago.This life, if you can call it that, is only a bitter reminder that I do not belong. While I will not take the coward's way out, I still anxiously await going home. Sweet oblivion cannot come soon enough.

Ashwynn's Two Copper: Home

Last week's Blog Azeroth Shared Topic was Home Sweet.... While I am quite a bit late on this one, it sparked ideas in my mind. Each of my toons will be making an appearance with their ideas about what home means to them. Here's where Ashwynn considers home.

Biznip may not care much for it, but there's nothing like the tink of dwarven smiths plying their craft. The heat of the forge makes this mountain city almost like a tropical vacation spot. I love Ironforge!

The hustle and bustle of  the city is comforting to me. There's nothing like a marketplace to get your blood pumping. The dwarves are honest and friendly, which makes it the perfect place to ply my trade. The plethora of people from all walks of life makes for interesting times.


Ironforge suits me and Biznip. While I do not partake, there's nothing Biznip likes better than a good dwarven stout, and drunken customers often equals profit.

The State of the Game: Post 4.0.1

Setting my priest aside like an old, well-played-with doll has left me feeling sad, disappointed and a little bit bitter. I've been running over the reasons I don't like the class changes in my mind, and reading and reading and reading other people's perspectives. One thing is certain, we've all taken the changes differently.

I've found folks who love the changes to priests and folks who hate it just like me, and others are sort of indifferent. But this kind of applies to all classes/specs. I've read blogs of people who are hating the changes to druids, and I personally am loving it. I've run across people who hate the changes to just about every class out there, and I've found others who feel the opposite. There doesn't seem to be much rhyme or reason for it.

Then I poked around a little further out than my priestly circle, and found Big Bear Butt Blogger and Dechion discussing the fact that the dislike may be because these are the classes we are most familiar with. If you look a little more closely, the common thread is that the dislike is for the person's main or the class they play most often. Maybe we're all just too stuck in our ways at the moment, and there isn't currently a very good way of testing things. Heroics are beyond a joke, and even ICC isn't much of a challenge anymore (or so I hear).

The one person I know who hasn't been so shook up over his main's changes is my mage friend, and I think it's mainly because he was sick as heck of being arcane anyway and was ready for a change.

This actually gives me hope. Maybe if I just give Ama a little break then I can come back to her with a fresh outlook. Worst case scenario, I come back to the priest at a later date by re-leveling a new one.

Amaranthine Dream: Home

Last week's Blog Azeroth Shared Topic was Home Sweet.... While I am quite a bit late on this one, it sparked ideas in my mind. Each of my toons will be making an appearance with their ideas about what home means to them. Here's where Ama considers home.

I've been all over Azeroth, but I spent the bulk of my time in the land beyond the Dark Portal. The place I truly consider my home is Shattrath, home of the Aldor.

Shattrath is the one place where I truly feel connected to the Light. The Naaru are amazing creatures and having lived among them for so long, I feel distant from the Light when I am away. The Light is always with me, but Shattrath will always be my light at the end of the tunnel, my home.

Aside from that, there's nothing like the entertainment at The World's End tavern. Perry Gatner's impressions are spot on, and who can resist The Artists Formerly Known as Level 80 Elite Tauren Chieftain?