But You Have Full Mana!!!

This has been the battlecry of the fail dpser/tank who died because (in their opinion) I must be a horribad healer.

I would say, on average, my experience using LFD so far has been 60/40 Good/Bad. I can only imagine that it is either going to get better or worse, considering the dungeons I've been doing are the early/easy ones.

As a Paladin, my spells are limited at this level. I don't even have Flash of Light yet. I'm limited to Holy Shock, Word of Glory and Holy Light as my bread and butter, which is a long cast spell. I have no AoE (unless you count passively healing myself whenever I heal anyone else). I can't work miracles.

I'm talking about you, Paladin "Tank" in Intellect gear spamming Exorcism. I'm talking about you, crazed Hunter who refuses to wait for the tank to pull and has his pet on aggressive+growl. I'm talking about you, Druid who tried to tank in Kitty form. I'm talking about you, Balance Druid who refused to let the tank pull because you have better armor than the tank. Fine, but then switch into freaking Bear form. Don't try to tank as a Night Elf. You are squishy and will die.

It's as if by the fact of just having mana I should be able to instantly transfer all of that mana into health magically saving everyone's stupid ass. I'm sorry, but it just doesn't work that way. There is no magic IWIN Healing button. If I spam heals on a tank and he still goes down, either a. the tank was not geared/specced correctly or b. the tank (or someone) pulled way too many or c. the tank (or someone) didn't move out of the bad or d. the tank did not pick up adds and I was too busy saving myself. I don't like to blame others. When people point the finger at me all I will say is I'm doing my best. If they keeping blaming and complaining at me I simply leave. Its just not worth the effort to argue.

I am a damn good healer. I've been healing for so long its like second nature. I know when a wipe is my fault and I will freely admit it. Just because I still have mana doesn't mean I've been sitting and twiddling my thumbs letting you die. Believe it or not, at this level I have yet to go OOM. Maybe its all the Spirit gear I've been getting. Maybe Blizz tried to make it a little easier on low level healers. I don't know.

Wipes happen. I don't know if anyone told you, but Godfrey is a hard boss, even on regular at level 20. I don't know if you realize, but 10 mobs is a bit excessive and is likely to wipe even the best group, especially if no one seems to know how to CC. How many healers are going to be left if the first thing we hear is that its our fault? Even if it is our fault, c'mon, cut us some slack.

From One Paladin to Another

Old Server:::New Paladin

I think that I could just play Paladins for the rest of my WoW career. I think that could make me happy. They have such stories to tell. They speak to me like no other class ever has.

I tried to do something different. I really did. I made a Hunter and quickly grew bored. I made a Paladin and well... 20 levels later, I think she's a keeper.

Hello. My name is Audrid. I have a very large mace.

Yes, I know. Another Dwarven Paladin too.

That's right, Moira's my Queen. Ya wanna make somethin' of it?

But this one is different. This one is all caught up in the Ironforge/Dark Iron drama.

So what if I'm wearing a kilt?

And she's a Holy Paladin, just like Gwennis was. What can I say, I'm a healer at heart. I'm leveling her almost purely through dungeons, and loving every minute of it.

In case you hadn't noticed, I almost always choose the double braid hairstyle for my Dwarven women. If you've never seen this hairstyle in action, I strongly suggest you make a caster with this hair and cast something long. Hours of entertainment watching those tresses twirl. Even funner when a random pugger notices it. I can't tell you how many times I've seen someone say, "OMG! Look at her hair!"

I'm still here...

I apologize for my lack of posting, and would like to thank those who commented on my last post. Your advice is greatly appreciated, even if it is no longer necessary.

You see, I keep changing my mind about what I want to do in the game. I guess I'm just a restless soul anymore. Maybe its one of those signs that I'm slowly burning out, but I really don't think that is what it is. I greatly enjoy the time I spend in game, I just have no desire to choose a main and get to level cap, so that leaves me very free to willy-nilly create and delete toons and play God for a little while.

How many characters have I started and wrote a bit of RP story about only to fade into nothingness? And so Gwennis will fade into the background as well. I'm sure there will be others to take her place. Maybe one will even stick.

I found it near to impossible to make friends on new realms, least of all friends that are also interested in RP, even on RP realms. It's as if you have to know names to get in with the cool kids or something.

I've decided that I can enjoy my RP well enough without the interaction of others. I can write my little stories and be happy. And so I return to my old realm, Cairne, where at least I have friends. I was far too lonely those weeks on Argent Dawn.

I deleted three of my five high level toons to make room for the alts I intend to make on Cairne. I deleted Ama, Viva and Ashwynn, as well as various lower level toons. I kept Icelica, and hope maybe someday I will level her up and become an uber DK tank. I kept Levity as my bank alt, mostly because I know I will never want to play her again so she makes a reliable banker (plus she has big bags and shiny flying mounts).

And so I am back among friends, with a shiny chunk of change. Who knew that between those 3 toons I had 20k gold? I know, for those of you auctioneers out there that's chump change, but for me its a lot.


I also found that I have two and a half bags full of BoA heirlooms, which I don't even want to use. I have no desire to rush leveling any more than it is already rushed. I've actually decided that none of my toons will have gathering professions to start with. I can always go back and level that up later, but I can't undo the XP gains provided by these skills.

I'm taking my time and feeling out different toons. I have one that I plan to level purely through dungeons, and several that I plan to level by questing alone. Maybe someday I'll even have a PVP only toon, if I can ever get up the nerve to enter a BG again.

I know, most of you are probably thinking I'm insane for deleting a level 84, 80 and 70. To me it just made sense, and honestly I feel a great weight lifted off of my shoulders. No regrets. Now I have room on my home realm for new toons, and I couldn't be happier.

Leveling Holy

I know, I know. I'm totally doing it wrong. I'm leveling a Holy Paladin by questing. But, you know what? It isn't that bad. I may not kill things super quick, but I can take one heck of a beating and keep on swinging. The only thing that's driving me crazy right now is gear.

Where is the healing mail? I guess Blizzard realized they overkilled quest rewards in Wrath with Holy Pally gear, so when they revamped the old world for Cataclysm they put nearly none of it in. Either that or they never expected someone to be stupid enough to try and quest as Holy. I have bumped into all of two pieces of mail gear with Intellect on it. One of those was a BoE random enchantment drop, and the other was a quest reward from the one dungeon I've completed.

At level 33 I'm wearing a motley assortment of Cloth, Leather and Mail. I'm terrified to try to heal a dungeon. Several levels ago I managed to get through SFK, but afterwards I was told that my gear was abyssmal and that it was a testament to my healing skill that I managed to heal through the dungeon. Great compliment, but it doesn't exactly make me eager to try another dungeon.

I don't know what to do. I'm leveling faster than I ever dreamed possible. I swear I went from level 30-33 in an hour last night. That is without a guild, without BoAs, without rested XP. The pace is mind-boggling, and I don't like it. I don't want to go into a dungeon because that will put me that much further ahead of the quests I'm working on. I'm trying to linearly complete zones so I can see all of the story. I'm sacrificing dungeons to do it. I'm almost half tempted to switch this toon to all dungeons all the time, but then what? Sure, I'll probably level up really fast and have healing gear, but I won't get to have the story.

What do you think I should do?

In Stormwind

The first thing I did when I got into Stormwind proper was go to the nearest tavern. The Tram drops you off in the Dwarven District, and it was a right good thing. I don't think I could have got my bearings with none of that weak stuff the Humans drink. Alcohol made of grapes! Bah! It may taste good, but that's about it. No, what I needed was to lose myself in a rowdy Dwarven bar with a good flagon of mead. I found just that at The Golden Keg. I almost felt like I'd never even left Ironforge.

With my drink drunk and my nerves as settled as they were going to be, I headed to the Cathedral Square to seek out The Shadowbreaker. It was with awe that I entered this area of Stormwind.

Right in front of the Cathedral of Light is a beautiful fountain, a monument to The Lightbringer. And then there is the Cathedral itself. It's beautiful, but it sure ain't Dwarven workmanship. Them spires and such are far too dainty for Dwarven sensibilities. It's a wonder the thing weren't damaged when Deathwing came. I'd imagine the power of The Light was what protected it from the dragon's wrath.

I couldn't resist letting a passing gnome snap some pictures of me at these monuments. I don't know much about how the gnomish picture-taker works, but it sure is nice to have some momentos from my trip.

When I entered the Cathedral it was bustling with Paladins and Priests and the faithful, all rushing around to whatever business they had. I nervously looked up to the altar, and there he was, The Shadowbreaker himself. I nearly stumbled over my own feet making my way across the blue and gold carpet to reach him.

I hadn't quite mastered the art of bowing properly without my wild tresses getting themselves in the way, so I opted to kneel before him, hoping I looked humble enough but still strong. He smiled kindly at me, and it made me feel a touch more at ease. He gestured for me to rise and said, "I have been watching your progress, Gwennis, and I can only conclude that The Light shines brightly upon you. You are becoming an exemplary Paladin."

I felt my cheeks warming as I stood up. I knew they were turning beet red with an embarrassed blush. I'm not so used to such praise and it was coming as a shock. And then it only grew worse.

He nodded and continued, "To honor your dedication, King Wrynn has commissioned the royal armorer to forge a special weapon."

And my jaw nearly dropped down to the floor. The King had commissioned a special weapon to honor me?! I don't even know how the Humans had heard of me. The only thing I could think was that Valgar had been telling tales. I knew that he thought I was doing well enough in my training, and I'd been helping the folks in Dun Morogh and Loch Modan to settle things down after all the earthquakes and such, but I didn't think I deserved all this.

Well, turns out there was a catch. The special weapon to be made for me requires special materials. Basically I got to go get them out of Shadowfang Keep, which has lately been infested with the undead. I don't know if they're Forsaken or Scourge, but either way this is a good chance for me to prove, at least to myself if not to my fellow Paladins, that I deserve this weapon.

The Shadowbreaker took me aside to his study to provide me with maps, the list of items I needed to retrieve, and an explanation of what I may be going up against. It was refreshing to be learning from a Human Paladin. I love my people, but it is always good to keep an open mind and to learn different ways of doing things. He taught me a few tricks I may not have learned otherwise.

I spent that night in Stormwind at The Golden Keg and shared a a few drinks with the Hammerbeaks before bedding down. Borna and Dalga are Wildhammer Dwarves, and I haven't had much opportunity to spend much time with our flying cousins. I was curious about their relationship with the gryphons and what it meant to be a Shaman. We chatted maybe a bit too late into the evening, because when I crawled into bed I could see through my window the distant light of the Sun starting to rise on the horizon. It was beyond time to get some rest. When I awoke I'd have to begin planning my trek to Shadowfang Keep.

Link Love for the Silly Bloggers Soul

In case you don't read these blogs, here for your enjoyment, it's silly time!

Starting with Larisa at The Pink Pigtail Inn, who posted about The Unfiltered Joy of Smashing Thieving Little Pluckers. Sometimes you just gotta smash things.

Alas from Kiss My Alas had a little bit of captioning fun, even if it was a tad Immature.

Desukar of 5 Minutes on Hearth found a fabulous video of Kitteh, Slayer of Dragons. I wish my cat got that excited about WoW too.

Search terms are making a comeback this month, and they are still as hilarious as ever.

• Search Terms by Traxy at I Like Pancakes. 
• Search Terms by Rhii at Oh My, Kurenai.

Note to self: Make more creative and interesting post titles in order to win at Search Term LOLs.

Everybody Hates Questing?

< Rant>

As I've been popping around the blogosphere I've noticed a trend. It's a trend wherein people think questing sucks and everyone must feel that way. It's used as a given, as if there need be no explanation of the statement, just questing sucks and everyone else thinks so too.

Who are you people? Why do you even play WoW? I would argue that 80% of the game is questing. If you really hate it so much and everyone else hates it so much, wouldn't you move on to a different game with less questing?

I hate having words put in my mouth. I am one of the mass of WoW players therefore I must hate questing too.

Well guess what? I LOVE questing. Questing is why I play. And quite frankly, I don't think I'm the minority. 12 million people are only rushing to reach level cap and secretly hate questing? Puh-lease.

I can live with people saying that they personally hate questing. I'm ok with that. Whatever floats your boat. But do not tell me what I do or do not hate. Blanket statements make you sound like an idiot, especially if you don't even attempt to back it up.

</ Rant>