BlizzCan 2010

Wouldn't that be a wonderful event, Blizzard bringing the party to Canada. Maple syrup for all, everyone gets a hockey stick at the door and the epic dog sled could be the ultimate new mount.

Seriously though, I would love to see a Canadian event of some sort, even on a smaller scale. Us poor Canadians are always forgotten. No country on earth more resembles Northrend. Despite what many think, we don't live in 6 months of darkness (most of us don't), igloos are only for when the in-laws visit and I'm just trying to help the environment using the dog sled.

Speaking of dog sleds, in my picture above are fellow WoW players and friends Rorik and Kittiara heading to the first anticipated Blizzcan 2010. (they won their mount with a loot card:P) Seeeee...wouldn't you want that bad ass mount?

So Blizzard...come to Canada, I'll get the kettle on.

Posters & Mags Oh My!!

Knowing how gnomeaggedon loves to see images his rugged little gnome, I had hubby create a little poster for him. This brought to mind a magazine cover he created for my bestest dwarf friend Breana (one of the original hosts of the Twisted Nether Blogcast and kick ass hunter). With Pulp Fiction in mind he did a photo shoot to catch the sexy dwarf Bre in a great pose, which was easy.

I love this picture of Bre...I gotta get it on a mug.

My Pepper Potts Justamom mage look on Gnome's poster is just so elegant, don't ya think? hehe

11.5 Million Subscribers - Still Shocks Me

According to WoW-Insider the figure of 11.5 million subscribers has been holding steady since late 2008. This still shocks me. I think that is a freakin' impressive number of people playing the same game. With the technology and graphics always drastically improving, there are so many options for folks to choose from. If I was just getting into gaming and faced with all the possible options available out there, would I play World of Warcraft? I'm not sure. I do know once you begin playing that it is easy to fall in love with your character, the game and want to always move forward.

With Wii and Xbox making some amazing graphically intense fun games, the cost would be far less for that type of investment over Warcraft with the ongoing fee. I wonder if game play time is down? Do people now divide their time between their Xbox or Playstation and Warcraft. Perhaps we have the same number of subscribers but not the same amount of game play.

Sometimes I think it's is a conspiracy. This number of 11.5 million is being repeated to give us that "we are part of something huge" feeling. If Blizzard lost even just 2million subscribers it would be a loss of $30,000,000 per month. Bringing their monthly total to $142,500,000 per month. OMG they would starve. We'd have to send a fruit basket for sure.

With Cataclysm only having a 5 level increase, I'll be waiting for my 1/2 price expansion pack:P

The Courteous RankWatch

While in a BG one day I got a strange message about my spell rank not being at it's top level for Wrath. I was shocked and wondering what the hell is this and realized from looking at my spellbook that I was using two ranks lower than I should be.

I recently installed the RankWatch addon from Curse.com as I truly thought it was a helpful tool. It can happen that spells don't rank up on your toolbar for whatever reason and get missed. So, this sends a message to the party in question, courteously telling them they are using say "rank 5" but can be using "rank 8" for their level. Clever addon I thought.

Well, to my surprise most people seem to hate it hehehe. Which I found kinda funny. I don't think there is occasion anymore to use down-ranked spells, so I thought I was being the helpful samaritan by letting others know when they have the incorrect spell rank on their bar. Instead of those comments like "oh, thanks I didn't realize" I got "WTF, Shutup, I'm gonna report you" comments. I giggled a little and thought "are they serious". Perhaps it is an embarrassment or lack of knowledge about their class so unfortunately I would make it worse by messaging back "Dear, don't be embarrassed if you have the wrong spell rank, happens to us all". Which seemed to infuriate them more.

Rankwatch sends a message to the party in question of a low rank spell and also tells me it sent it. You can then put that person on ignore by Rankwatch if you don't want it to send the message again later.

I currently have my little polite RankWatch turned off, but I think I may try it again. Perhaps I'm evil now that I know it annoys people or perhaps I hope to find that occasional person that appreciates catching the error of their ways.

Either way, I'll be Rankwatching YOU!

Patience for Gold Makers

Always at the beginning of a new expansion making gold can be extremely easy. You can make a lot of gold and make it quickly. As we come closer to the end of Lich King and most folks are geared, the prices have been dropping for mats.

Now making gold is a game of patience. I find myself waiting for days that are significantly more raiding days to sell flasks and mana pots. On a good raid night my 5 mana pots will sell for 50g, other nights only around 20g. Gems have dropped in price and I would probably do better with them on Tuesdays when players cash in their arena points for gear but because I have soooo many gems (as most people do). I tend to put them up and just patiently go through which cut has a better profit for me. Cash in your extra honor points for gems, or your heroism emblems. Don't forget you can downgrade your triumph emblems into heroism emblems to buy gems. You can turn them in at the Silver Enclave from the 3 emblem vendors but much easier to do it from one NPC in the sewers called Usuri Brightcoin who holds all the emblems and can turn them for you easily into heroism.

Really look at your professions and check even your lower level items you have or can farm (like herbs) to make some more serious profit. Lower end ores are also bringing in a good profit or the gems that come from those ores that are needed for leveling JCs. (not the Big JC but Jewel Crafters, although I'm sure the Big JC can make some fine gems:P )

I still make gold on a few fish feasts as I have my Twisted Nether Podcast running while I fish or I'll even watch online TV shows or You Tube. Use your Windows mode in the game. If you haven't used the feature in WoW just go under video and select "windowed mode". It's a great option while you are farming to multi task. Surf porn, pay bills online (pay my bills online?), surf porn, watch TV, porn. You get the idea.

Step it up and make some gold even in these hard WoW times:)

Cataclysm - 5-mans

Very exciting with Cataclysm to have new 5 man dungeons. I love running with just a few friends, especially when none of us have seen the content before. It will be awesome.

Apparently there will be 8 new 5-man dungeons including new versions of Deadmines and Shadowfang Keep. I think it is a brilliant idea. It always seems shameful when these wonderful little instances disappear as new expansions arrive. Perhaps I'm a nostalgic sap when it comes to the older zones (or perhaps because I'm tree hehe..sorry couldn't resist) but I love going into the old zones.

5man dungeons are where it all started and I would love to see more of the players that are leveling toons get the opportunity to play them at their level. Most of us just get ran through by a high level guildie. Hmm perhaps that could be a project for your guild. Level up very slowly together and run those old 5mans. I'm sure the prisoners at the stockades are waiting for you. Ewww creepy hehehe.

PVP Tutoring Site

Earlier this week, hubby came across a website Arenapwnage.com. As a druid/hunter team we are always looking for tips to improve our arena game. At this site they have instructional videos, class tips and forums to answer questions or discuss arena issues with high end arena players.

Since we just got the account this week (there is a fee) we can't really give our opinion as yet. Once we have really gotten into the site and all it has to offer we'll be able to provide you with our thumbs up OR down on this arena website tool.

Stay tuned.

Trivia For the WoW Geeks

Firstly, make sure the office door is closed or your screen is turned off. Don't want the boss to catch you doing trivia at work. I take full responsibility if you get caught but no you can't come live with me if you lose your job. Well, maybe if you bring chocolate.

Anyways...here are a few WOW related trivia questions to sharpen your mind or fill it with more useless information:) Fill in the blank

1. Prince Arthas _________

2. _____________ __________ was once a glorious temple dedicated to the night elves' moon-goddess, Eluna. However, the great Sundering shattered the temple - sinking it beneath the waves of the Veiled Sea.

3. _________ & ___________ host the popular Warcraft podcast Twisted Nether.

4. To obtain the Tabard of Brute Force you must win ____ (number) rated arena matches at level 80.

5. In general, _______ are scaled humanoids with the lower bodies of large serpents.

6. A rare mount drops in Kara from _________?

7. _______________ & ________________ are the two flight paths in Grizzly Hills for horde?

8. ______________, the questgiver, is found patrolling the southeastern part of the fringe of the Bone Wastes. This questgiver provides a quest with the miniwing pet reward.

Strats for Strand

Upon visiting Cynwise's Battlefield Manual, I thought I would throw my thoughts in on BGs from time to time since I've been doing quite a few of them of late.

It took me a while to get my bearings in Strand when it first came out. As a woman with no sense of direction I found it strange to travel uphill towards yellow and not feel I was traveling North. Now I have my bearings hehe.

Here are a few tips I have learned from our BG leader in premades that will definitely help you. Hopefully I haven't missed too many:)

OFFENSIVELY:

1. Decide on a door to attack

2. Melee drivers

Put your melee as drivers and any CC classes and healers as passengers. Those CCs will let the enemy fall behind the tank and take less hits and heals will help those players on the ground. As a druid I love to ride shotgun, healing, cyloning, rooting...its great

3. Capture the opposite graveyard

This was an unusual move in my opinion but seemed to work. Have a member capture the opposite GY of the door you take down as soon as possible. You take the east door, have someone grab the west GY. This way when you die you rez on the other side where the fresh tanks are and they are totally unexpecting it and you have little or no opposition. Later you can then capture the other.

4. Bombs, Bombs, Bombs

Too many folks don't put emphasis on the bombs but they can truly change the game. Everyone should have a bomb, no excuse...tank dies, get to a door and place it.

5. Keep going back for tanks

Many players get caught up in the fights and leave tanks just sitting there. Keep going back and try to have multiple tanks going at once. Again CC is so important here. Have a partner in your tank to do some CC or heals of the ground players.

DEFENSIVELY:

1. Split your group with healers and dps for each dock

2. Put NO players on the guns.

All players should be on the beach at the designated dock

3. Focus only on the tanks

This is a huge mistake most people make in focusing on killing players. Tanks are the full focus of Strand. Its unlikely they will take the initial door down with bombs as most folks don't think of it and they are generally too busy in combat with all our team on the beach. Begin killing the tanks but if no one gets on them, leave them at about 10% to avoid re-spawns. If the enemy does get them moving, take them down fast and as fresh tanks appear get them to the 10% mark for an easy take down if they begin moving to the gate.

3. If they do get through keep them off the GY flags

By letting them cap the flag you are getting them closer to the end goal. Again you will be watching the beach to quickly destroy any tanks that come up. We generally have not had the enemy get through the first door and if so they are usually kept stagnant at that point.

4. Communication, communication, communication

Follow your raid leader's direction and communicate where you may see a breakthrough or bombers

Last week we had some great Strand BGs. Generally I hate doing Strand but with a premade it's a lot of fun and feels easy.

Hope these little tidbits I've learned help you.

Many thanks to TheChosen on Bleeding Hollow for his great leadership.

Don't Be That Guy

There is always someone who brings pain to raids, guilds, economy and other aspects of the game. Just so we are clear, I did a list of those guys that make most many of us crazy. Feel free steal my post for your blog and add to it. Actually, I challenge you to add to it hehe. I'm certain there are many guys I've missed:)

1. Don't be that guy who levels a toon with the help of a guild and then /gquits

2. Don't be that guy who comes to raids without any pots, flasks or food

3. Don't be that guy who goes into random heroics under geared and wants to be carried though

4. Don't be that guy that complaints about his guilds lack of raiding without ever trying to organize one

5. Don't be that guy who is constantly asking guildies for gold

6. Don't be that guy who wants to high end raid but doesn't want to learn his class well

7. Don't be that guy who leads a raid and ninjas the loot for himself or his friends

8. Don't be that guy who spams the meter to show his own ego (most folks have their own meter)

9. Don't be that guy who is always criticizing others about their gear or skills

10. Don't be that guy or leaves a group or raid when they get their cheeve done

11. Don't be that guy who buys gold online (since they probably hacked it from my husband's account)

Finally....

12. Don't be that guy whose a tool and brings drama and unpleasant to the game. Be courteous, play smart, play fair and enjoy.

What guys have I missed?

Shopping at Blizzard

I recently bought the Panderan Monk pet from Blizzard and I've seen tons of folks riding on the new celestial steed mount available for purchase from the Blizzard site. Do you think Blizzard is going to do a big expansion on this area. Right now it is a mount and pets. I can imagine them creating cool trinkets something like the Orb of Deception for purchase or perhaps some fancy gifts for holidays ie. Christmas or Valentines. I doubt it will ever be a game enhancing item but just cool stuff that can be purchased with money from the site instead of in-game gold.

Personally I do like the idea of being able to purchase an item outside the game but I'm sure there are folks that hate it. I know I know Blizzard needs the money *rolling eyes* but for me (a woman who loves to shop) it is a great idea.

I'm just curious as to how far it will go. Buying outfits for your pets, saddles for your steed or perhaps buy your own phased out area to take your loved one on a picnic. I know I'm getting scarey now hehehe.

Should the whole idea of buying stuff on the Blizz site that you can use in game be done away with?

Happy B-Day Gnomeaggedon

I was thinking what could I do for this special gnome on his birthday (Gnomeaggedon) so I thought I would re-live his horrible stocks experience. Because, thats the kinda mage I am...we are all in or not at all.

A moment of fear did come over me as I entered the Stockades but I blinked, gathered mobs from the first wing and moved the large brutalizing gang to the stairs. There I suffered horrific blows to the head and torso. Blood spilled into my eyes and tears began to well but this was for Gnomer and I must endure.

The pain lasted for what felt like hours (more like 3 minutes) and when I finally fell to the ground the last words before going into unconsciousness were "Tell Gnomer Happy Birthday". In the distance I heard prisoners walking away "who the hell is Gnomer".

My mage is currently recuperating at the Stocks medical care area but is expected to make a full recovery. All gifts of flowers or chocolate can be brought there.

Happy B-Day Gnomeaggedon *cough* *cough* *gasp*

Flower Picking Whore

How many characters have you leveled up and then when you are bored you simply toss them aside, leaving them alone in the dark twisting nether. They know no love, but await that moment when something is awoken in their player's head to activate them again and bring them back to life.

From an earlier post you noticed I leveled my alchemy and used my first character ever; a 71 female warrior, to farm the herbs I needed. Now I'm enjoying making flasks and pots and continue to put that warrior to work.

I've been farming in Storm Peaks the last couple of hours on my warrior and although she is only 71 I have very few difficulties in this zone. There are 2 or 3 nodes I avoid picking but aside from that she can fill her bags quickly. Most of the herbs there are not near mobs and so its quite easy. Every now and again I come across a horde that will gank me for a flower but thats to be expected and it really is a rarity. Storm Peaks is a much safer zone than Zul'Drak or the Sholazar as there are just too many mobs in those zones.

I love my easy breezy beautiful flower picking warrior whore:)

Afraid Of My Own Shadow

Well this brand new kick ass computer I got about 2 weeks ago has had some serious issues of auto shutting down and restarting and upon returning it to the store twice they finally replaced the two sticks of ram which seems to have fixed the problem.

Aside from that, I'm am just thrilled with the speed and the graphics. Warcraft has never been so crisp and lag free. Immediate arrivals when hearthing or going through portals to major cities. Traveling around Dalaran and doing so freely without stumbling over my own feet. It has been absolutely wonderful.

I want to enjoy the full graphic experience of WoW and therefore have all my settings turned up. The landscapes, the crisp colors all are just so vivid. However, every time I farm and go to land I see a vision of someone flying nearby and gasp for an instance ready to defend myself. Only then do I realize its MY shadow on the ground. Today I picked about 150 herbs and probably 50 of those times I forgot it was my shadow and had that instant feeling "someone is following me". NO I won't turn off the shadowing ability as when I'm not surprised by myself, I quite enjoy seeing my shadow as I could never use that aspect well on my old system.. It's like a really bad blonde moment I have 50 times a day. Perhaps I need a hair color change.

Ornithophobia

I believe I suffer from a specific form of ornithophobia, which is the fear of birds, specifically boomkins. Although I love druids, sweet mother of god the boomkin form is ugly. Seriously what is it with this druid form. Boomkins should be peaceful approachable creatures that put a smile on your face. Not this bird that nightmares are created from. As you can tell from the picture above, boomkins are not in denial about it, they know just how creepy they look.

I did try the boomkin form for a brief period of time only to be traumatized every time I logged in. In arena I like my partner to kill them first, make it bloody and painful. These creatures have no place in warcraft. Spay or neuter your boomkin today...help control the ugliness population in warcraft.

I know I know..you folks are probably gonna tear me apart...BRING IT!!

The Mentally Challenged Raider

Perhaps its my age, perhaps its my nature but raiding more than 3 hours puts me in a state of sleepiness, boredom and agitation.

I like to raid but after about 3 hours, especially with many wipes on one boss, my mind begins to wonder and I often ponder "why did I come to this raid". I absolutely enjoy my time with friends Millie and Rorik who make it much more bearable as we PM back and forth, laughing about unrelated tidbits of nothingness. Rorik and my husband have a very similar sense of humor, which does scare me a little.

Upon the third hour it is as though something in my brain begins to shut down. My bed begins to call out to me. Between wipes I find myself laying my head on my desk and closing my eyes for just a few minutes. I begin to fidget in my seat and I'm sure my prominent sighs can be heard by the neighbors. I know there are raiders doing this 5 or 6 hours a night, 3 or 4 nights per week which would make me mental but I admire their determination. Perhaps now that my PVP side has again awakened and it is an instant gratification or kick in the pants, this short term game feels better for my brain.

After tonight I'm going to take a little raiding break. The folks I raid with are great. I know I know, you all will never invite me to a raid again, but know I'm there with you in spirit...wait...no. I don't even wanna be there in spirit, the thought gives me heartburn :)

I shall die in PVP with honor and broken branches but never feeling the agitation I've been experiencing lately with raiding.

The Pouting Lazy Druid

I've been a slacker on my drood with only 1 profession so this weekend,

since I have the gold, my plan was to buy all the herbs necessary to level

alchemy. Hubby is an elixir master so I will be a potions master. I hope to level

it over a 2 hour period.

Well that plan went to pot as the old world herbs were freakin' insanely priced.

Some at 120g per stack. I was absolutely floored. I knew the prices would be a

little high and didn't mind paying more for the low level herbs but it was over

the top. On Saturday with hubby's help we farmed some of the herbs and

got me to about 250 then on Sunday we got me to 439 so the rest if gravy

and I'll do it with transmutes.

Flask of the North

Binds when picked up

Requires Alchemy (400)

Item Level 80

Use: Increases your spell power by 47,

attack power by 80, or Strength by 40 for 1 hour.

Counts as both a Battle and Guardian elixir.

Effect persists through death.

"Can be used in arenas. This potent flask is not

consumed when used, but is unaffected by Mixology."

A nice little buff for pvp.

I can't count the number of times I hear folks asking about leveling a profession

and each time I tell them to visit wow-professions.com as they give

you guides for all the professions. They indicate what mats you need and how

much of each, recipes and where to get them. It can have you leveling any

profession in no time flat. There really is no reason to not have two professions

unless you are a lazy drood like myself:)

Loserville

Draw - A contest ending without either side winning.

From this definition of draw, are we all losers then? After a 45 minute arena match myself and hubby played was a draw, I was shocked to discover we still lose 12points as did the other team. I would have thought a draw meant that no one wins and no one loses. Apparently we all lose:( Blizzard's way of saying we all suck I guess. Why not just Zero for both teams after spending a hard fought 45minutes in arena. This game does not count in your 10 games though.

If you are someone who only does 10 games per week, to waste that 45 minutes must be a real pain in the butt. I think no points lost for either is a better way to do it.

I don't mind that the game doesn't count but to also lose 12points is a double whammy for some.