Blog Azeroth Shared Topic: No Favourites

Blog Azeroth proposes a new topic for bloggers to discuss every week. This week is courtesy of Mataoka of Sugar and Blood.

A few weeks ago, I noticed logging onto some characters seemed to be more irksome than others, it dawned on me that there were a few who never, ever seemed to be a chore to play. My question is, (and yes, you need to have more than one character over level 1) which of your characters do you always look forward to “seeing?” But the real question is why? Perhaps think of this from a role playing perspective, that this character has a personality, play style and demeanor that inevitably just works. I’d love to meet them!

Wow, this one was so difficult for me. Not because I can't pick a favourite. That part is easy - priest. Hands down. No contest. She's my highest level character, has the most hours played (hours is less embarrassing than days or weeks), the most raid progress, and before they became account wide the largest collection of mounts, pets and achievements on my account. It's safe to say that everything I do on WoW, I do first on my priest.

It's the second part of this topic that I find hard to put into words. Why? It's hard for me to explain the attachment I feel for this particular character, and where I don't roleplay at all I don't see her as a separate entity apart from myself but rather as a part of myself. Telling you why she is my favourite requires introspection, and it's hard to tell you why I feel such an affinity for this particular character. I'm sure that part of it, probably a big part actually, is class.

I can't remember if I've talked about this here yet, but I have not always been a priest. I spent at least my first year, probably closer to two years now that I think about it in Warcraft, as a rogue.

She's changed many times since I created her, but this is actually my original character currently masquerading as a worgen. I actively viewed myself as having a rogue main up until well into Burning Crusade. I had always been curious about a priest alt, but making the transition to healing from melee dps was a big step for me. It was a step I eventually made, and have never looked back, at least not for long.

Fundamentally, I feel like everyone in WoW has a class that resonates with them the most. If not a class, then at least a role. From playing her, I learned than I am a healer. More than that, I am a priest. While I have many alts, that I enjoy playing, I always come back to my priest. She has become for me something like a pair of well loved, perfectly broken in sneakers - I am most at home in Azeroth when I'm playing her.

While I'm sure that class has a great deal to do with why she is my favourite, I know that's not all there is to this. Part of it, I'm certain, is also in her name. I've gone to great lengths to preserve her original name and even when Cy moved servers I stayed behind. I cannot imagine her having any name other than Hemoglobin. It's irrational, I know but it's important to me.

In short, there is no one reason why this is the toon I idle in Stormwind on - I have characters on more active servers that would entertain me in trade much more than Staghelm does. In fact, I am logged in, idling while I write this. The words come more freely if I'm logged in idling while I write.

I'm not sure how to wrap this up... so here is an unrelated picture I drew in Marketing.

For those unfamilliar with Trogdor the Burninator you can check him out here through this link and if you like the doodle, check out my flikr, link on the right.

Blog Azeroth Shared Topic: Raiding with Leashes

Blog Azeroth proposes a new topic for bloggers to discuss every week. This week is courtesy of Effraeti of Awaiting the Muse.

If a future patch adds more raid-dropped pets like those introduced in 5.1, what pets would you like to see? What raid and boss would they be available from?

I'll admit, picking only one was too easy. So, instead I decided that in keeping with the "Raiding with Leashes" theme, I would create my own achievement, only instead of Classic raids, all of the pets would come from Burning Crusade raids. We could call it "Crusading with Leashes" or "Crusading with Burning Leashes." So, here are my thoughts, I've included 12 pets that would drop from raid bosses and a couple of options for what I think would be appropriate achievement rewards.

Karazhan

The Curator, would drop himself obviously.

Shade of Aran, would also drop himself. I like to think that a semi-transparent mage pet would hearken back to the days when you couldn't go anywhere without "Archmage Vargoth"

Serpentshrine Cavern

Hydross the Unstable, because it's not fair that only mages can have a water elemental

The Lurker Below would drop something like a baby kracken, that, in a little bubble would be so cute.

Fathom-Lord Karathress because I've always wanted a pet naga.

Tempest Keep (The Eye)

Void Reaver. Come on, who's never wanted to own a Fel Reaver? I imagine it being a totally kick ass mechanical pet.

Battle for Mount Hyjal

Anetheron. Tiny dreadlord, 'nuff said

Azgalor. Hell yes, I want a tiny Pit Lord.

I think it would be great to get a gargoyle pet too. It could theoretically drop from any boss.

Black Temple

 Supremus, kind of like a minifernal but I like his colours better.

Shade of Akama. I think if I had one of these it would be the only pet my Enhance spec Shaman would use.

Reliquary of Souls. I think this boss is one of the ones I like fighting the least. It would feel good to have it follow me around.

Achievement Reward

So, once you've completed the achievement I actually have a couple of suggestions for possible rewards.

Felmyst, or rather, a fel whelp. I don't have the Wrath collectors edition, so there's nothing I wouldn't do to get a Frosty knock-off.

A Naaru. I feel like a tiny Naaru would be an appropriately epic reward for completion of such an achievement.

All images are from WoWWiki

Shared Topic: Winterveil Wishlist

Blog Azeroth proposes a new topic for bloggers to discuss every week. This week is courtesy of Noahdeer of Be MOP.

Winter Veil is around the corner and it's time to sit upon Greatfather Winter's lap and answer the important question, "What do you want for Winter Veil?" Is it that expensive grand expedition yak? a nice transmog custom outfit? or a Red Ryder carbine-action, two hundred shot Range Model air rifle with a compass in the stock? What is on your Winter Veil wishlist?

A public letter to Greatfarther Winter

Dearest Greatfather Winter,

I am not sure what to ask for this year.

I was going to request a Giraffe Calf, but as I was flying around the Barrens to snap a screen shot of yet another infuriating, calf-less family of Giraffes, I caught one.

I was going to ask for a Cinder Kitten, Greatfather, but Cy beat you to it. This little buddy was in my email this morning

So, Greatfather, forgive me, because I haven't got many things to ask for.

1. I would love the rest of the pets toward the Mr. Bigglesworth achievement. I know 11 pets is a lot, since I've only got the Mini Mindslayer so far. Ultimately, I would be happy to just get the pets I can't solo easily.

2. Could you get my Death Knight to level 90? My shaman too while you're at it? Or give me time... enough time to do it myself. I'd like that too.

3. This last one is the most difficult one, but it's also the most important, so I hope you can handle it. I would really like if you could give my realm its sense of community back. Lately, it's been kind of dead and I would really appreciate to see trade chat active again. I would even settle for a nice, new, social guild.

Thank you, in advance Greatfather.

Sincerely, Malkshake.

Blog Azeroth: Thanksgiving Event, Also: IntPiPoMo - I'm a little Lost

I'm a Canadian, my Thanksgiving has long passed. I thought about not participating in this because of that. I've since changed my mind. I've decided that there is never a wrong time, to say "thank you" and that I shouldn't need a statutory holiday to express my gratitude.

Before I start, I think I should give credit, where credit is due. I would not be writing this post had I not read this one, by Erinys on her blog The Harpy's Nest, first.  So, thank you, for the inspiration that I needed to write this.

I doubt that anyone listed hereafter in this thank you will ever read it, and as a result, I feel there is no need to name names. They have no blogs to link to, anyway, at least not to my knowledge.

My thank yous start 7 years ago, in Redridge, before the bridge was repaired. I was a level 20-something rogue, seated on the bridge (it used to have benches) waiting out resurrection sickness. This was before I had even completed my first months subscription. A higher level rogue came and sat beside me. Our conversation ended with a guild invite, and him taking me, a fledgling rogue, under his wing. My mentor and I became close friends, we leveled together, ran battlegrounds together, and through that time he taught me everything I knew about being a rogue. I was a fine rogue. At level 55, he gave me my first epic. A purple dagger, called Shadowblade. I still have it you know.

More important than any of those gifts though, was the invite to his guild. Since the dissolution of the original guild I have been searching for a guild that made me feel like it was a part of me as much as I was a part of it, like that guild did. Some of my fondest memories in Vanilla are the runs through Scholo, and Strat as we tried to fill out our Dungeon sets, both 1 and 2, also, lockpicking my way into Scholo. I miss the banter, and I miss having all of my friends congregated in one guild. I also want to thank all of the members who put up with my cloth farming, for Stormwind rep, because I did it back when you had to pass in stacks of Runecloth.

I also want to thank the members of my first arena group. I know I was terrible, but thank you for putting up with me. It was all worth it, I think, that time I one-shot a warlock with Ambush and won the match.

I want to thank my dad, who paid for my subscription for years, and who recently gave me
my kite pets. Thank you dad. You're the best.

I want to thank oen of my best friends in game, who quit nearly two years ago now. He gave my my monk pet for my 18th birthday. I want to thank him for the hours of conversation, for always being willing to give a helping hand and for being there for me in game, for whatever I needed to talk about. I miss you.

I want to thank everyone who was in Eternally Lost, on Staghelm, and everyone who was in it's second incarnation. I want to thank everyone who was in the Knights who Say Ni, who we merged into and all of the friends I made while I was there. I want to thank the German crew, who took me on early morning raids when my schedule was horrible. I want to say goodbye, to Leo, who always invited me along, and who, tragically, passed before I got the chance to thank him.

And maybe now, that I've thanked many of the people from my past, I too can move on and focus less on the loneliness that they left in my heart and let another social, family guild in.

 

I want to finish this off with a thank you to Cy, the best guy a girl could ask for, who surprised me with chocolates at work today and a Path of Cenarius card yesterday.

And thank you to you, anyone who reads this.

I'll leave you with a gloomy picture of Karahzan, my favourite raid instance of all time. 

36/50

Wow Item Creator!

Shared Topic: Confessional

Blog Azeroth proposes a new topic for bloggers to discuss every week. This week is courtesy of Mataoka of Sugar and Blood.

What is one thing, just one thing, you did that was pretty awful in Azeroth, that you wish you could get some kind of redemption or forgiveness for, or even just get off your chest?

This was a hard one for me. If it's not already apparent, I try to be very disciplined in my interactions with other players in Azeroth. So, I've spent most of this week trying to remember something horrible that was my fault. I've managed to unearth two.

1. A while ago, I was in this great social, family guild. We raided a little, but were never had a consistent group and were; therefore, never very good. The draw for this guild was the family element, not the progression... I made the mistake of inviting my Type A, progression driven boyfriend to put his alts in the guild, since it was where I hung out on mine. Worse, I made the mistake of inviting him on a couple of runs with the guild group.

Ultimately it ended with him cussing out the weaker members of the group. He was kicked out, and I left with him, primarily out embarrassment.

Looking back on it, I feel bad that I didn't apologize for the drama I caused, by proxy of inviting him to the guild and the raid. I always knew that it was not the right fit for him.

2. The second incident is pretty similar to that, except it happened between myself and a friend. Honestly, I don't even remember what the fight was about, but it ruined our friendship and I wish I could take it back.

Shared Topic: The Rules of Me

Blog Azeroth proposes a new topic for bloggers to discuss every week. This week is courtesy of Mataoka of Sugar and Blood.

The Rules of Me: What are your personal rules you wish others would know about you?

When I first read this topic, I honestly didn't think I really had personal rules... and then I thought on it for a minute and remembered the "Code of Conduct" I referenced in my last shared topic and realized that the "Code" I was proposing is tied very closely with my own personal rules of how I would like to be treated by other players. The more I think about it the more I realize how high strung I really am.

Mataoka said in her post, of her rules, "These are not hard and fast rules, by any stretch--take them as suggestions." In my case, I feel like my personal rules, are not suggestions. They are what I use when I interact with others and detail my expectations of them too. Control freak or what?

I feel like most of my issues and rules come out when I'm dungeoning, because I think that the dungeon finder brings out the worst in all of us, so most of mine are going to be written with direct application to dungeoning, that was the only way I could form the feelings into words.

1. If I need help with something, I will ask for it. In return I will not offer unsolicited help. - I've been running a lot of dungeons lately. My significant other has recruit-a-friend so I play the account linked with his and I almost exclusively heal. Lately I've been getting a lot of groups with DPS who seem to think it's part of their job to tell me that they need heals. This only succeeds in pissing me off. If you need heals, I guarantee you, I know that.

2. If you want to talk to me, approach me. I'll like it. - I'm quiet, shy, and unassuming. It's hard for me to be the first one to talk. I love it when people make the first move at friendship, so I don't have to.

3. Friends in WoW or friends on the internet are real friends. Related: People on the internet are still real people. Be nice.

4. When in a dungeon group, know your role, please, act within the parameters of that role and be spec’d appropriately.

5. If I'm standing on a node, fighting, that node belongs to me, don't take it. In return, I will not take nodes from you.

6. Be courteous in dungeons. I'm not there to cuss you out, don't do it to me either. Mistakes happen, wipes occur. There's no need to call someone out. If they're horrible, kick them. If it's the first misstep in an otherwise good group, let it go.

7. I don't usually loot in dungeons. Sorry but telling me I have to loot skinnable stuff makes me want to even less. I'm stubborn, probably to a fault.



I probably took this way too seriously. Oh well.

Blog Azeroth: Shared Topic "Wow Faux Pas"

Blog Azeroth proposes a new topic for bloggers to discuss every week. This week is courtesy of Ninevi of Flask Half Empty.

A faux pas, noun, \ˈfō-ˌpä, fō-ˈ\ is a violation of accepted social norms (for example, standard customs or etiquette rules). The term comes originally from French, and literally means "misstep" or "false step". (via Wikipedia) Shared Topic: Do you think there any faux pas in WoW? If so, please explain your thoughts or maybe share your own memories and experiences! Feel free to include serious ideas (ie: etiquette in LFD/LFR) and silly ones alike (ie: fashion disasters in transmog)!

Let me start by saying I feel like there is an unwritten code of conduct in WoW, one that all good, respectful players know instinctively. I've given the rules a bit of thought and what I think it all boils down to is "If you wouldn't do it to someone in real life, don't do it online."  

I feel like with the introduction of many of the tools that make WoW accessible to people with very rigid schedules has brought on the consequence of exposing decent, knowledgeable players to more ignorant players who are looking for a free ride in dungeon and raid groups. It used to be that you could only play with other characters on your server. If you had a bad reputation on your server you didn't get into any groups. For example, during Wrath on my server there was a mage who was notoriously poorly geared.  He would spend peak hours in trade chat spamming for an invite for ToC, which was current content at the time. Now eventually he did gear up but his reputation for being lazy prevented him getting invites into raids. These days no matter your reputation, you can get a dungeon group, and even a raid group with no prior screening and with people you never encounter again. This added anonymity seems to give a lot of added freedom to ignore the rules of conduct.

Here are some of the Dungeon faux pas I've encountered:

1. Intentional Non-Tank Pulling. I'm not talking about accidental fear pulling or when a dps switches into tank spec because your tank has been afk for ages. I'm talking about the idiot in the group who intentionally runs off and pulls another group, usually while you are killing a perfectly good group already.
2. Needing on things you don't need. Related: Needing on everything. This applies to the guy who needs on all of the greens "for enchanting" and the DPS who needs on tank gear and steals it from the tank. Easily avoided by asking permission first.
3. Signing up for a tank or healer role, and running as a DPS spec. I know, the DPS queue can be long, but it doesn't matter when you get booted from every group you enter because your cpec in wrong.
4. Starting an escort quest before everyone in the group has the quest. 'Nuff said.
5. Wearing gear with inappropriate stats. The image below was a mage in Heroic Oculus at level 80. For real.