This will be my last post until most likely after New Years. I rarely get any time at all to play WoW during the holidays, so much so that it's a miracle I've gotten the Winter Veil achievements on even one character.
So, I just want to say Merry Christmas to those who celebrate it! Happy Solstice for those who prefer that! (I have a good friend who does.) And, Happy Holidays to anybody else whose holidays I either don't know about or don't know how to spell!
I'll be back with a post on January 4th with my WoW blog resolutions, and no it won't just be repeating about my intention to level a bunch of alts.
See you in the new year!
http://chum.ly/n/5399fe
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Character Updates
As I've mentioned before, my playtime is severely limited. If I could play as much as I wanted to, I'd likely have a lot more progress to report so far. Still, I do what I can.
First of all, an update on Todan. He's currently about half way through level 81 and advanced into the Shimmering Expanse of Vash'jir. I've taken him on a single dungeon run, into Blackrock Caverns, and in fact that's where he dinged 81. At 80/81, I didn't see much in the way of the new difficulty, but I'm nervous of later levels. We'll see. So far, my only complaint is the respawn rates in Vash'jir. Now that the crowds are gone, they're just a little too intense. I've often ended up fighting 5 mobs in a row as they instantly respawn when killed.
I've also been working on my new Worgen Druid, Julvin. I have to say, I love the Worgen starting area, but I have to agree with some that have said the Goblin zones are better. Anyway, I've gotten him to level 13 and he's just arrived in Darkshore. He's an engineer since it's my favourite profession. Engineering doesn't seem very druidic but whatever, I already have an inscriber and an alchemist and a jewelcrafter on that server, I figured I might as well go with what's fun. And, I imagine Julvin sees chemical reactions as all part of nature as well.
So far I haven't done anything else on any other characters lately. I so wish I had more playtime available. Especially with Christmas coming up my available time is going to go down as well. Still, I have fun with what time I can squeeze out of it.
http://chum.ly/n/517631
First of all, an update on Todan. He's currently about half way through level 81 and advanced into the Shimmering Expanse of Vash'jir. I've taken him on a single dungeon run, into Blackrock Caverns, and in fact that's where he dinged 81. At 80/81, I didn't see much in the way of the new difficulty, but I'm nervous of later levels. We'll see. So far, my only complaint is the respawn rates in Vash'jir. Now that the crowds are gone, they're just a little too intense. I've often ended up fighting 5 mobs in a row as they instantly respawn when killed.
I've also been working on my new Worgen Druid, Julvin. I have to say, I love the Worgen starting area, but I have to agree with some that have said the Goblin zones are better. Anyway, I've gotten him to level 13 and he's just arrived in Darkshore. He's an engineer since it's my favourite profession. Engineering doesn't seem very druidic but whatever, I already have an inscriber and an alchemist and a jewelcrafter on that server, I figured I might as well go with what's fun. And, I imagine Julvin sees chemical reactions as all part of nature as well.
So far I haven't done anything else on any other characters lately. I so wish I had more playtime available. Especially with Christmas coming up my available time is going to go down as well. Still, I have fun with what time I can squeeze out of it.
http://chum.ly/n/517631
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Vash'jir
So far I haven't even gotten very far into Vash'jir on my Paladin, but I'm loving every minute of questing in it. The zone is so beautiful, the quests have a great story, and I get to ride a seahorse!
Art is the first thing I list because there's no other zones that, in my opinion, compare to Vash'jir. The underwater scenery is just so beautiful I've caught myself just staring at it until I notice I'm getting attacked. This is the first zone to come along since Nagrand where I wouldn't mind being stuck for an extremely long time, just because I love the scenery so much. The atmosphere is also amazing, I really get the feeling like I'm underwater.
The quests are fantastic as well. I won't go into details but there's the over-arching story connecting events together where, at least for the first part of the zone, the theme is survival. I love that, I love that in the story we're survivors and fighting for our lives. It makes me feel like a part of the events in the zone, in a way that I didn't feel when I played Hyjal in the beta. I think Vash'jir may be one of those rare zones that I won't mind doing over again, just because the story is that cool.
And the seahorse is just plain cool. I so wish I could bring him out in any underwater area.
http://chum.ly/n/4fb647
Art is the first thing I list because there's no other zones that, in my opinion, compare to Vash'jir. The underwater scenery is just so beautiful I've caught myself just staring at it until I notice I'm getting attacked. This is the first zone to come along since Nagrand where I wouldn't mind being stuck for an extremely long time, just because I love the scenery so much. The atmosphere is also amazing, I really get the feeling like I'm underwater.
The quests are fantastic as well. I won't go into details but there's the over-arching story connecting events together where, at least for the first part of the zone, the theme is survival. I love that, I love that in the story we're survivors and fighting for our lives. It makes me feel like a part of the events in the zone, in a way that I didn't feel when I played Hyjal in the beta. I think Vash'jir may be one of those rare zones that I won't mind doing over again, just because the story is that cool.
And the seahorse is just plain cool. I so wish I could bring him out in any underwater area.
http://chum.ly/n/4fb647
Saturday, December 11, 2010
A Kink in the Plans
Yes, I'm very late. Not only did I miss my Tuesday post but I missed yesterday as well. There's a reason!
For the last few weeks, I've been dealing with a slowly-dying router. It would quite regularly need a hard reset, but in addition to this it would reset itself every now and then. It's been doing this since Blizzcon, I think I wounded it streaming that coverage.
Tuesday I tried to play WoW and found that I was disconnecting every few minutes. I managed to get far enough along in Vash'jir to get my seahorse and a couple quests beyond, but I was so fed up after that of constant disconnects, often in the middle of fights (luckily there were always enough players around to notice and save me.. either that or my autoattack is good, came back every time alive and with a dead enemy), I couldn't bring myself to post. I was seriously so frustrated I couldn't think straight.
The rest of the week I couldn't stay on long enough to even browse the web in peace. (And, really, web browsing is how I usually get my inspiration for subjects to post about.)
Last night, my trials were at an end. My mother took pity on me and the router my parents were getting me for Christmas was given to me early. I was able to play again!
And I played. I played WoW until my arm hurt too much to continue. Rather than continue Vash'jir, though, I started a Worgen, going druid after all, and played him up through level 6. (Yes, only level 6, my arm's still a little weak from the bad pull a few weeks back.) Still, it was a blast to be back, to play without interruption once again, and this took me past midnight. I also, after a small rest, played a few matches of Star Battle in Starcraft 2, something much easier on my arm than WoW, and a map I've been wanting to try all week.
So! I'm back, and assuming I didn't overdo it tonight and damage my arm again (I don't think I did), I'm back to playing. So, my posts should once again be back on schedule as well!
http://chum.ly/n/4e13dc
For the last few weeks, I've been dealing with a slowly-dying router. It would quite regularly need a hard reset, but in addition to this it would reset itself every now and then. It's been doing this since Blizzcon, I think I wounded it streaming that coverage.
Tuesday I tried to play WoW and found that I was disconnecting every few minutes. I managed to get far enough along in Vash'jir to get my seahorse and a couple quests beyond, but I was so fed up after that of constant disconnects, often in the middle of fights (luckily there were always enough players around to notice and save me.. either that or my autoattack is good, came back every time alive and with a dead enemy), I couldn't bring myself to post. I was seriously so frustrated I couldn't think straight.
The rest of the week I couldn't stay on long enough to even browse the web in peace. (And, really, web browsing is how I usually get my inspiration for subjects to post about.)
Last night, my trials were at an end. My mother took pity on me and the router my parents were getting me for Christmas was given to me early. I was able to play again!
And I played. I played WoW until my arm hurt too much to continue. Rather than continue Vash'jir, though, I started a Worgen, going druid after all, and played him up through level 6. (Yes, only level 6, my arm's still a little weak from the bad pull a few weeks back.) Still, it was a blast to be back, to play without interruption once again, and this took me past midnight. I also, after a small rest, played a few matches of Star Battle in Starcraft 2, something much easier on my arm than WoW, and a map I've been wanting to try all week.
So! I'm back, and assuming I didn't overdo it tonight and damage my arm again (I don't think I did), I'm back to playing. So, my posts should once again be back on schedule as well!
http://chum.ly/n/4e13dc
Friday, December 3, 2010
My Plans for Cataclysm!
What can I say today, just days away from the release of the expansion? I've already mentioned that I'm in no way a hardcore player, so I can't give much in the way of spec advice. And, I did my best to avoid quest spoilers in beta other than questing through part of Hyjal, so I can't give much advice on where to find the best lore in the new levelling zones either.
However, I can talk about my plans, and my specs. Specifically, how I plan to take my Paladin to 85, which will be my primary goal before I turn attention to any other alts. Whether my plans and specs are good, however, is yet to be seen.
First, comes my levelling builds. In beta, I tried out both protection and retribution for solo-questing and by far retribution is the better choice. Protection no longer has the aoe ability that used to make up for its' lack of killing speed, and given how tough mobs are in Cata, the fights just stretch on too long as Protection. I never tried levelling Holy in the beta, but I imagine it's the same.
So, for Retribution, this will be my spec as soon as I go in and change it for Tuesday.
I plan to get Judgements of the Just and Toughness for my next 5 points, as they should add to my survivability very well, and that's an important factor. As I'll never dungeon in this spec, (I can't stand melee DPSing), I have no need to maximize every point of dps.
For dungeon healing, this is my current spec.
I plan, over the next 5 points, to get Improved Judgement, another point in Crusade, and then get two points in Pursuit of Justice. I'll lack the healing bonus of Divinity but I think it's worth it to get the movement speed bonus, given how movement-heavy dungeons and raids are in this expansion.
As for what I plan to do to get myself to 85, I plan to jump into Vash'jir and start questing. When I get tired of questing or fed up with the crowds that are sure to be there the first few days, I'll switch specs and hop into a dungeon.Questing will be my primary means of getting XP, however, as I very much want to see all the new questlines.
Hopefully, this works out alright!
http://chum.ly/n/4b4393
However, I can talk about my plans, and my specs. Specifically, how I plan to take my Paladin to 85, which will be my primary goal before I turn attention to any other alts. Whether my plans and specs are good, however, is yet to be seen.
First, comes my levelling builds. In beta, I tried out both protection and retribution for solo-questing and by far retribution is the better choice. Protection no longer has the aoe ability that used to make up for its' lack of killing speed, and given how tough mobs are in Cata, the fights just stretch on too long as Protection. I never tried levelling Holy in the beta, but I imagine it's the same.
So, for Retribution, this will be my spec as soon as I go in and change it for Tuesday.
I plan to get Judgements of the Just and Toughness for my next 5 points, as they should add to my survivability very well, and that's an important factor. As I'll never dungeon in this spec, (I can't stand melee DPSing), I have no need to maximize every point of dps.
For dungeon healing, this is my current spec.
I plan, over the next 5 points, to get Improved Judgement, another point in Crusade, and then get two points in Pursuit of Justice. I'll lack the healing bonus of Divinity but I think it's worth it to get the movement speed bonus, given how movement-heavy dungeons and raids are in this expansion.
As for what I plan to do to get myself to 85, I plan to jump into Vash'jir and start questing. When I get tired of questing or fed up with the crowds that are sure to be there the first few days, I'll switch specs and hop into a dungeon.Questing will be my primary means of getting XP, however, as I very much want to see all the new questlines.
Hopefully, this works out alright!
http://chum.ly/n/4b4393
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Portals
I had honestly planned on doing a review of the Shattering-changed zones on Tuesday, but due to my bad shoulder I've barely had a chance yet to experience them. I can say Dun Morogh is fantastic, flowing much better than before. And from beta I can say that Tirisfal and Silverpine are great as well, especially Silverpine. But, that's not much of a blog post.
So, I'm going to bring up a topic I've seen debated quite a bit these last few weeks, especially since 4.0.3a went live. Portals, and the removal of such from Dalaran and Shattrath.
I very well see the point those complaining have made. It makes the game just that little bit more like work than it was before. I get that, believe me. I have a limited playtime myself and anything that adds time needed to do things is just that little bit annoying.
However, I have to ask, why do you need to go back and forth now? If you're questing in Outland or Northrend, you have no need to go back to the old cities to train or, I believe, to use the AH anymore, as they're right there in Shattrath and Dalaran. If you're questing in the new Cataclysm zones, your new hub cities are Stormwind and Ogrimmar.
I'm not trying to be sarcastic or anything of the kind. I honestly would like to know what it is that people are planning to do where the lack of portals are such an inconvenience.
For me, I'll be happy to leave the lag of Dalaran behind me until I have characters in the 70s again. http://chum.ly/n/4ae449
So, I'm going to bring up a topic I've seen debated quite a bit these last few weeks, especially since 4.0.3a went live. Portals, and the removal of such from Dalaran and Shattrath.
I very well see the point those complaining have made. It makes the game just that little bit more like work than it was before. I get that, believe me. I have a limited playtime myself and anything that adds time needed to do things is just that little bit annoying.
However, I have to ask, why do you need to go back and forth now? If you're questing in Outland or Northrend, you have no need to go back to the old cities to train or, I believe, to use the AH anymore, as they're right there in Shattrath and Dalaran. If you're questing in the new Cataclysm zones, your new hub cities are Stormwind and Ogrimmar.
I'm not trying to be sarcastic or anything of the kind. I honestly would like to know what it is that people are planning to do where the lack of portals are such an inconvenience.
For me, I'll be happy to leave the lag of Dalaran behind me until I have characters in the 70s again. http://chum.ly/n/4ae449
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