tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84688775074018172902024-02-06T22:52:28.643-06:00Our Girl FridayFriday Macfayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488340330212549021noreply@blogger.comBlogger104125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468877507401817290.post-15430102311707942242011-02-05T11:04:00.001-06:002011-02-05T11:08:50.398-06:00Pre-Heroic Gears for Arms: Shoulders & Back<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIFGUoag98ND1QXHnZBw44JzoGRL-xGYPRBM2vRu13wl-AJZUFSu6YUMRqqQt900Dsn-v00tGPUJxbco-42QDYq-QgcSAzT3YnolN7Ux9_-Oc8xd_j3YQElfmx9m-xaSFkE_MY7PqrgBU/s1600/friday_cutout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIFGUoag98ND1QXHnZBw44JzoGRL-xGYPRBM2vRu13wl-AJZUFSu6YUMRqqQt900Dsn-v00tGPUJxbco-42QDYq-QgcSAzT3YnolN7Ux9_-Oc8xd_j3YQElfmx9m-xaSFkE_MY7PqrgBU/s200/friday_cutout.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Wow I fell behind on this one! Okay jumping right back in!<br />
<br />
The Shoulder Look<br />
<br />
<br />
Best: <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=58100">Pauldrons of the High Requiem</a> - 1650 Justice Point is a little steep, but probably the first of the JP set you'll want to go after. Its got a massive amount of much needed Hit and Expertise. Red socket lets you pop in more Strength, or socket purple to help get that Meta Gem activated. These are such a good investment for Arms warriors, also, because it can reduce the amount of gemming you need to reach Hit cap (or a close proximity, see below).<br />
<br />
2nd Choice: <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=55075">Bloodied Pyrium Shoulders</a> - A PvP set of shoulders?!? Yup. Besides the massive Strength it's also loaded with Expertise. A lot of Arms Warrior worthy gear is loaded with Haste, so grabbing Expertise when possible is a good idea and it puts these shoulders on top. Visit your local blacksmith to get 'em.<br />
<br />
Runner Up: <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=55029">Redsteel Shoulders</a> - Nice for leveling (available at 82) and your initial Level 85 Dungeon forays, these are cheap from the AH and the Haste can be Reforged. You can even slap the shoulder enchant on them because you'll be getting the rep required for the lesser inscription pretty quick while questing through Deepholm.<br />
<br />
Enchant: <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=62345">Greater Inscription of Jagged Stone</a> from Therazane rep at Exalted. There's also a <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=62344">Lesser</a> version that will tide you over until you finish the rep grind.<br />
<br />
The Rug<br />
<br />
In the cloak department we have a toss up, but here's how I puzzle it out. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=67140">Drape of Inimitable Fate</a> - Yah, it's a Haste peice but a rug with Strength and Stam on it? Yes! Reforge the crap out of the Haste and take it! Unfortunately it's a random world BoE drop. It's going for as much as 10K gold on my realm. So a better option is probably . . .<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=63760">Cloak of the Red Flight</a> - The is a reward from the quest Battle of Life and Death in the Twilight Highlands. Another Strength and Stam cloak! And it's a quest item with Hit and Expertise. And the quest chain is so freakin' epic you're going to be doing it anyway. Epic quest or 10K gold? hmmmm.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=55872">Geordan's Cloak</a> - This one drops off Siamat in the Lost City of the Tol'vir. So, this one has less Hit, but more Crit than the Cloak of the Red Flight. I wear it because my Hit is fine for now, but my Crit is horrible. But are you really picking up enough Crit to make it worth running LCT over and over to get it to drop? <br />
<br />
Unless you have money to burn (or just get lucky) I'd rule out the Drape of Inimitable Fate. Between the two cloaks, I imagine most people will just take the Cloak of the Red Flight and be done with it. It's awesome, it does the job, no need to switch. If you get lucky enough to score Geordan's Cloak, though, take a look at your Hit.<br />
<br />
Okay, you're not at cap, let's say, but that cap is set against raid bosses. At this point, is the only thing you're swishing on gonna be raid level bosses? If yes, are you going to be wearing this stuff to a raid? No. So, take the crit. See what I mean?<br />
<br />
Enchant: <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=52777">Greater Critical Strike</a>, or the cheaper <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=52764">Critical Strike</a>. The massive difference in price makes Critical Strike look so much better. We're talking thousands of gold here, in many cases, for a meager 15 crit points? No thank you.<br />
<br />
Next we'll look at bewb covers.<br />
<br />
-FriFriday Macfayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488340330212549021noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468877507401817290.post-30123998304960309522011-01-16T12:55:00.001-06:002011-01-16T12:56:10.889-06:00Pre-Heroic Gears for Arms: Head & Neck<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzSKhoInVimo6oqPHZf4u1p0Te6f9IsRyXwVm7OquVofFODBJ1PoboqfuWpCS42jozEI03cNOx-Rd3QyjQZHvEbc3DuAHBtu8taCoLOT8_CH-ZFBeZChf7xGHB7EHPrq2TNUGXqjssM0/s1600/fridayico005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzSKhoInVimo6oqPHZf4u1p0Te6f9IsRyXwVm7OquVofFODBJ1PoboqfuWpCS42jozEI03cNOx-Rd3QyjQZHvEbc3DuAHBtu8taCoLOT8_CH-ZFBeZChf7xGHB7EHPrq2TNUGXqjssM0/s1600/fridayico005.jpg" /></a></div>PREVIOUS: Intro <br />
<br />
These are the Arms Warrior worthy Head and neck items I'm lusting after at the moment.<br />
<br />
Keep in mind that some of this stuff you probably won't actually be able to afford until you're already in heroics. But we'll all join hands and jump off that bridge when we get there. Even one JP piece is going to be nice, and the current set is quite lovely.<br />
<br />
<b>For the Noggin</b><br />
<br />
Color is no longer important. A blue iLevel 333 helmet has the same stat budget as a green iLevel 333 helmet. Ignore the item's color. iLevel is important but even then some higher iLevel pieces aren't going to be optimal. So we buck the trend in pre-heroic gear by starting with... a green!?! Yes.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=55031">Redsteel Helm</a> - Honestly, this Blacksmith crafted helm is the best noggin protector you can get pre-heroic. You can buy it at the AH at Level 83 and you're set all the way through per-heroic stuff. Meta-socket? Check. Red socket? Check. Piles of Strength and Stamina? Check. Crit and Expertise? Bonus! This was custom made for an Arms Warrior. Get it.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=58098">Helm of Easeful Death</a> - You can get this one with 2200 Justice Points. Honestly, I'd keep the Redsteel Helm, get the JP shoulders first, and save this for later. It's got a heaping does of Expertise on it, but it's also loaded with Haste. And that just doesn't do us Arms Warriors a lot of good. Great for our Fury brothers and sisters... but they're kinda smelly. Save this for later and Reforge it when you get it.<br />
<br />
Gem: <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=52291">Choatic Shadow Spirit Diamond</a> and <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=52206">Bold Inferno Ruby</a><br />
Enchant: <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=62422">Arcanum of the Wildhammer</a> requires Revered with the Wildhammer Clan<br />
<br />
<b>Around the Neck</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=62447">Gift of Nadun</a> - A very nice neck piece that you can get when you're Exalted with Ramkahen. Reforge the Haste and this one will last quite awhile. My problem is that rep with Ramkahen is, like, third on my list. If I'm close to getting the better JP neck, will I get this? We'll see.<br />
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<a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=57930">Pendant of Quiet Breath</a> - A Strength and Stamina neck with Crit and Expertise? Yum! This is available for 1250 Justice points and I'm thinking it's a great investment. I'd still get the shoulders first, but this would be second on my list.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=55999">Seedling Pod</a> - This is a drop in Halls of Origination from Ammunae. A solid iLevel 333 neck that will more than hold you over until you can get the JP neck. (There's a heroic version, as well.) Reforge the Haste and you're good to go.<br />
<br />
Thinking It Over<br />
<br />
Carefully consider the timing and if dropping gold or points on a piece is actually worth it. For example, if the Seedling Pod dropped for me in HO, I would even bother with the Gift of Nadun, and I might bump Pendant of Quiet Breath down my list a little for the JP stuff. On the other hand, if I hit Exalted with Ramkahen, I'd pass on the Seedling Pod, reforge the Gift of Nadun, and again bump the Pendant down in my JP priorities for a little while.<br />
<br />
Really just depends on where you're at when the opportunity to get something crops up. Choose wisely. :)<br />
<br />
-Fri<br />
<br />
NEXT: Shoulders & CapesFriday Macfayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488340330212549021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468877507401817290.post-50601289261666130062011-01-16T12:17:00.001-06:002011-02-02T07:03:00.133-06:00Pre-Heroic Gears for Arms: Intro<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8lPALoAWP74t-1vAZxV6QpOa6Ac4EvyliTRQC0ERDxinmeuVlVCPdB9MBkIvaGNtHi0Zjl0VOAbqoULSQtpj1lcK9xxsge443RWxBD-SNmTo5cUEUJ922qCwUkRiWW-elLpcfbpZyO08/s1600/friday_pvp_s1_armor.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8lPALoAWP74t-1vAZxV6QpOa6Ac4EvyliTRQC0ERDxinmeuVlVCPdB9MBkIvaGNtHi0Zjl0VOAbqoULSQtpj1lcK9xxsge443RWxBD-SNmTo5cUEUJ922qCwUkRiWW-elLpcfbpZyO08/s200/friday_pvp_s1_armor.png" width="171" /></a></div>What to wear is of great concern to the fashionable Arms Warrior. In this series of posts we're gonna look at the different options for dressing up and accessorizing our toons prior to running Cataclysm heroics. Equiping some of this stuff should get you about ready, and in some cases even carry you through heroics.<br />
<br />
Keep in mind that these posts are from a "casual" player's point of view.<br />
<br />
Actually, let's take a quick aside...<br />
<br />
I'm not using the term "casual" anymore. I refuse. I play as much, if not more, than most people that like to raid or arena. I know my class better than most of them, as well. I just don't have 4-6 hours at a stretch to sit in front of my computer. So, sorry Blizzard, but this emphasis on raiding and arena players "deserving" the best rewards is, quite frankly, a load of horse shit.<br />
<br />
No more "casual." I'm calling these players the regular players. The ones that play WoW and enjoy it for the experience, the social aspect, and the beautiful world Blizzard has created. The people that actually appreciate WoW as more than just a video game to beat.<br />
<br />
Okay, end soapbox. You're probably looking at this for Gear tips. So here we go...<br />
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<b>Stat Priority</b><br />
<br />
Strength, Hit Rating (cap = 8%), Expertise (cap = 26), Crit and Mastery (both are great, as much as you can get of both). Not recommending Haste or Agility for Arms Warriors at this point, but remember that can change. The next patch is going to mix things up a bit. A lot of Arms related gear has both stats, so if you get those that's fine.<br />
<br />
Don't forget you can Reforge those Haste pieces to make them more better. :) Reforging Haste gear is also a hedge against changes coming in the next patch. If Haste becomes important, you can, um, unforge (?) them and you're set.<br />
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<b>Gemming</b><br />
<br />
Right now I'm thinking ignore the socket bonus on Gems. You'll want to load up with <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=52206">Bold Inferno Rubies</a> 'cause Strength for Arms Warriors is still our #1 priority. If you need Hit, the <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=52213">Etched Demonseye</a> is a good bet for Blue sockets. It can also help get that <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=52291">Chaotic Shadowspirit Diamond</a> activated. (I think I read somewheres that that the gem requirements for that one are being reversed in the next patch, but can't remember where I read it. Maybe it was a dream. Can anyone confirm?)<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, Crit and Mastery are hard to get on Plate gear at the moment, so if you must gem for them you can use the <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=52222">Inscribed Ember Topaz</a>, or the <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=52240">Skillful Ember Topaz</a> in your Yellow sockets.<br />
<br />
<b>Reputation Grinding</b><br />
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My personal plan, based on the enchants and gear available: Therazan and then Wildhammer. The former has the shoulder enchant, and the latter has the hat enchant. After that, I say "For the Camel!" but your mileage may vary.<br />
<br />
Don't forget that quite possibly the only decent weapon you'll get pre or post heroic comes from Baradin's Wardens. So, that's probably one you'll want to grind daily in tandum with whatever else you're working on. (There's one from Archaeology and a crafted mace, as well.)<br />
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<b>On Dungeons</b><br />
<br />
Honestly, pre-heroics, the only real reasons to run the regular version of Cataclysm dungeons is for the Justice Points once a day and the practice. Both are good reasons, of course! But you won't be running them much for gear. There's a few peices that are awesomesauce, but mostly grab it if it's an upgrade to your quest qear. Otherwise, you'll be looking at crafting, reputation and JP vendor gear.<br />
<br />
<b>Regular Gearing</b><br />
<br />
What's worth working toward? Do you absolutely have to have the full JP set just for completeness? Is it fun to get the gear you want or is the slight boost not worth the effort? Are you really going to drop an extra 2000g on an enchant that gives you a tiny little benefit?<br />
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It's up to you. Just have fun getting it. For the regular WoW player, getting there is the most important part. Looking good is an awesome bonus. :)<br />
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NEXT: Head & Neck<br />
<br />
-FriFriday Macfayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488340330212549021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468877507401817290.post-58020359591978663382010-12-19T13:23:00.000-06:002010-12-19T13:23:35.121-06:00Emergency Tank!: Or, When Things Go Really Wrong<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1CRcWHwYWfpmbFCrulFrcB5JA2sWI4F59na9VaCASeui3t5g0EJF7j0bMGZh9KjOVzKf2Sb4gjKFGtN3nQPC493a9K18xEOHhTFVOLQhm68prODgDy0vAz_rEzQQBSOGn1_1UUSLUuA/s1600/fridayico011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1CRcWHwYWfpmbFCrulFrcB5JA2sWI4F59na9VaCASeui3t5g0EJF7j0bMGZh9KjOVzKf2Sb4gjKFGtN3nQPC493a9K18xEOHhTFVOLQhm68prODgDy0vAz_rEzQQBSOGn1_1UUSLUuA/s1600/fridayico011.jpg" /></a></div>I've always been enamored with the idea of an Arms tank, not because I want to do it but because I think Arms Warrior is the best class/spec in all of WoW and we should be able to do everything and anything and be completely OP all the time. I still don't understand why we can't run up behind a tank and heal them. Really? I make an wicked good band-aid!<br />
<br />
Ah well, you can't have everything . . .<br />
<br />
So, three times so far in Cataclysm, I've had to take over the tank roll mid-fight. In one case, the healer went nuts and tried to top everyone off in Blackrock Caverns and promptly went OOM. One time in Stone Core when the tank pulled without any cc. And then last night the tank missed running into the 'lectric triangle in <the air="" one=""> on the last boss in Vortex Pinnacle.</the><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85obTmKyXXCNFS_Wr4BHYfn6K8KC5DdC0hGTuq6yKiDy1lmoKRBs1Vs-FUFAJtnMZcqH_2KwY96fR7VQDWg7HrdXl_24_-ktVqNAqp7Q-ZBnHkhEIqvVEfUG8vgbwN3OIRojAumXDhH0/s1600/friday047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85obTmKyXXCNFS_Wr4BHYfn6K8KC5DdC0hGTuq6yKiDy1lmoKRBs1Vs-FUFAJtnMZcqH_2KwY96fR7VQDWg7HrdXl_24_-ktVqNAqp7Q-ZBnHkhEIqvVEfUG8vgbwN3OIRojAumXDhH0/s640/friday047.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">er... um.... yah... k.... Might would be good. Yah. And a freakin' nuke if ya got one.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
In each case it was a good healer and good tanks. First time for all over them in those dungeons and after the initial mistake they learned and didn't repeat the error. In fact, everyone of those runs was freakin' awesome fun! <br />
<br />
Things go all f#$ckity more often in Cata dungeons, so if you find yourself suddenly without a tank and the ball is passed to you, here's some thoughts for how be a backup quarterback.<br />
<br />
The most important things to take care of, in order, are: Staying alive (Def Stance), getting everything under control (Challenging Shout, or Taunt), and then start hitting stuff to generate threat (Thunderclap and Sunder Armor being your initial priorities). <br />
<br />
<br />
After that you can start getting fancy.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkaUrTEN9Gv0YgM9yiQCaTIxvBBY2JdTVGm1AjLgpsbdtyqUeTet73DCA2qK03Z47UPpLvJtVnBmRtLQdjTpcYIm1MiTWXiOFRSR4Kyt-p643ojoxW8rDg4Qt_Np4fbM7W6BKwE6T8iyI/s1600/friday048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkaUrTEN9Gv0YgM9yiQCaTIxvBBY2JdTVGm1AjLgpsbdtyqUeTet73DCA2qK03Z47UPpLvJtVnBmRtLQdjTpcYIm1MiTWXiOFRSR4Kyt-p643ojoxW8rDg4Qt_Np4fbM7W6BKwE6T8iyI/s640/friday048.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well . . . That's not good.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>#1. Pay Attention. The days of ignoring what's happening with the tank and the healer and just flailing away on bad guys are gone. Fugitaboutit. Two things you need to know all times: healer's mana and the tank's health. You need to combine these two things with <i>what</i> the healer is doing and what's going to <i>happen</i> to the tank next (for example: is she at quarter health and about to take a 40K shot in the noggin?).<br />
<br />
You absolutely must know when the tank goes down. You have only a few seconds to react before everyone is dead. Anticipation is the first trick to pulling this off.<br />
<br />
#2. Get into Defensive Stance. That's F2 normally. Do not tank from Battle Stance. You will die.<br />
<br />
#3. You need a sword & board swap macro. In many cases you <i>can</i> tank with a 2-Hander, but it's not pleasant for the healer. So swap out for a shield and a one-Hander. You're gonna have trouble with making cute little threats quickly, so make it a fast weapon if possible, because you want to stack Sunder Armor (and hit Revenge whenever it comes up) as quickly as possible. <br />
<br />
Here's an <a href="http://www.wowwiki.com/Item_equipping#Simple_Swap_Without_Itemslots">easy-peasy weapon swap</a> macro, though there are all-in-one solutions out there. Type /macro into your chat to open the macro maker thingie.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">/equip [nomodifier] Vir'naal Guardsman's Axe</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">/equip [nomodifier] Catapult Loading Scoop</span><br style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;" /><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">/equip [modifier:shift] Axe of Earthly Sundering</span><br />
<br />
<br />
Change the names of the items to whatever you have. (Just open your bag and shift click them to copy the name right into the macro and don't forget to update the macro when you get better gears.) Now when you click this button, it'll swap in your one-handed weapon and shield. Holding shift and clicking the button will bring back your 2 handed weapon.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcxUNgoBp_TFBsfEfRpc2Twhx6z7aT0AYJYC-OdRBS_bgZmJbYPxnauh8S5fGhLCwUUxpwYvxuPu1qapnS7gJCM8L7HICHH1xidgQXvwvBqW-ohCihRBNW-jZxXS05T4hJgNEMDFGWn4/s1600/friday049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcxUNgoBp_TFBsfEfRpc2Twhx6z7aT0AYJYC-OdRBS_bgZmJbYPxnauh8S5fGhLCwUUxpwYvxuPu1qapnS7gJCM8L7HICHH1xidgQXvwvBqW-ohCihRBNW-jZxXS05T4hJgNEMDFGWn4/s640/friday049.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No really! It's epic enough! It is! Really! AAAAAAAHHHH FUUUUUU . . .</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">#4. Keybind your basics. You need <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/spell=1161">Challenging Shout</a>, <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/spell=355">Taunt</a>, </span></span><a href="http://www.wowhead.com/spell=5246">Intimidating Shout</a>, and <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/spell=1160">Demoralizing Shout </a>to get things under control. To keep them under control you'll need <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/spell=84816">Thunderclap</a>, <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/spell=7386">Sunder Armor</a>, <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/spell=6572">Revenge</a>, <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/spell=2565">Shield Block</a>, and <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/spell=94009">Rend</a> (particularly handy if you're using <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/spell=84615">Blood & Thunder</a>). Maybe <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/spell=46924">Bladestorm</a> will work but I've never gotten to the point where I could try it. Theoretically . . .<br />
<br />
#5. Screw everyone, you first priority is to pry any mobs off your healer. You need to know which mobs are on your healer so that when you peel them off with Challenging Shout you can lock them down fast. Everyone else can wait.<br />
<br />
#6. A warning macro is handy. Something like "/yell Friday is TANK. Heals on me! Shouting in 3... 2... 1..." I bind something like this to Shift-F2, so that when the bad stuff hits the fan I hit F2, Shift-F2, Challenging Shout (or Taunt on a boss fight), Weapon Swap.<br />
<br />
All of this happens incredibly fast! Don't be surprised if it doesn't work, at all, the first few times you try it. Mainly, get into defensive stance and shout. Worry about staying alive and holding everything long enough for your healer to figure out what's happening.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4fo2OpX7AowQnVBN-WyUpqRgcbSJ1WHKu0hwJ3IRFP3jnBNOaHvpFniHtlkyrySIPGwbOhHGNh0TvD7MNx0xEXFFNtgjj9pQN1BRaSx2mdgG2CEQhi0S844fTPRUokVmS9782pUBWU0/s1600/friday050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4fo2OpX7AowQnVBN-WyUpqRgcbSJ1WHKu0hwJ3IRFP3jnBNOaHvpFniHtlkyrySIPGwbOhHGNh0TvD7MNx0xEXFFNtgjj9pQN1BRaSx2mdgG2CEQhi0S844fTPRUokVmS9782pUBWU0/s640/friday050.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turtle, turtle, turtle, lalala!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Things to think about from an Arms Warrior what is not a tank (proper tanks already know this stuff):<br />
<br />
Challenging Shout only lasts for 6 seconds and has a ten yard range. After that the mobs will go back to whatever devious plans they had before you scolded them. So, if you use it to pull multiple mobs, you need to stack threat on each target to continue to hold them. It also has a 3 minute cool down, so you won't get another shot at it. As an Arms warrior you might be able to stack threat using Sunder Armor on two or three targets at best. So prioritize quickly. Anything going after your healer, that is.<br />
<br />
Taunt is better but only effects one target at a time. You can yank the target to you, smack it, and lock it down pretty effectively. Use this on boss fights, particularly. It also has an 8-second cool down, so after your initial shout, you can pick a high priority mob and lock him down quickly.<br />
<br />
You have very little in the way of threat generation other than raw strength. Thunderclap works, but it's <i>very easy</i> for DPS to pull them off you if that's all you've hit the mobs with. If you're feeling fancy, macro or use an add-on to slap a raid marker on the one you want DPS to hit. Hopefully they see it before they die. Better, they figure out you're suddenly tanking and use target-of-target. Fingers crossed.<br />
<br />
Thunderclap is also useful because you don't have the Dodge, Parry, and Block mitigation of a proper Protection Warrior. Thunderclap slows all the mobs down, making it easier to get a handle on them. It also decreases their attack speed, which can really help your healer out. If the opportunity presents itself, use Demoralizing Shout, as well. Popping <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/spell=871">Shield Wall</a> is pretty much a must ASAP. It gives everyone a few seconds to change their underwear and figure out what's going on.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxdu9xzYcI67sF37aBQxABKUE2QLTnhRmR_y4zLJxeeHwRTuSNwaZK_hpFOBbhxQrY7HBb3WPl8dDc_E5u5urvjoSZBzqVzgLO0pK-dyfobbOLQNZ9n93-14TqRQA1sA2NnhOMJbskuw/s1600/friday051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxdu9xzYcI67sF37aBQxABKUE2QLTnhRmR_y4zLJxeeHwRTuSNwaZK_hpFOBbhxQrY7HBb3WPl8dDc_E5u5urvjoSZBzqVzgLO0pK-dyfobbOLQNZ9n93-14TqRQA1sA2NnhOMJbskuw/s640/friday051.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After running a dungeon, go back through and look around. Beautiful!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>If you need a few moments to get your head around the issue, so to speak, Intimidating Shout can scatter 'em for a few seconds. Just be carefully not to send them running into another pack and make the situation worse. (You <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=45794">can glyph to fix this</a>, but since you're not a proper tank that glyph is not really one an Arms warrior goes around packing for PvE stuff.) I'd really only use this on Boss-With-Adds type fights where there's no chance of bringing friends. Yelling for everyone to CC the crap out of everything is not a bad idea, though, just to buy time.<br />
<br />
There's plenty more such as <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/spell=23920">Spell Reflect</a> and interrupting with <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/spell=72">Shield Bash</a>. . . but those are super fancy moves that you probably aren't going to get a chance to use anyhow. If you PvP as Arms you're at an advantage here because you probably use all of this stuff already. If not, just practice a bit while you quest. Maybe jump in some PvP and just practice staying alive as long as possible in Defensive Stance. You'll get it.<br />
<br />
There's no chance you're ever gonna be a proper tank playing Arms. You can however, use your wide variety of abilities and versatility to be the hero of the day in a pinch. Pay attention, practice using those abilities you rarely even think about, and stay calm. What's the worse thing that could happen? So you die a little. :)<br />
<br />
-Fri<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpuWmYGGOV0PR9vN4-mSr6SQjweMs1cQVF515MiJRlvapZcZdo8vATnF83E4c02K6cp1vVGVti3JUzlz4JEC7ZqsBUTG2d4LT7LWtwg3rPAGj6E2d8eBtxooXQJOGOQ4aoU61BLaJgTHA/s1600/friday052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpuWmYGGOV0PR9vN4-mSr6SQjweMs1cQVF515MiJRlvapZcZdo8vATnF83E4c02K6cp1vVGVti3JUzlz4JEC7ZqsBUTG2d4LT7LWtwg3rPAGj6E2d8eBtxooXQJOGOQ4aoU61BLaJgTHA/s640/friday052.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yo' Mama!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Bonus Section: Selected Taunts from the old Tank days<br />
<br />
"I can see your ass crack you worthless son/daughter of a Trogg!"<br />
<br />
"I'm rubber you're glue, your frostbolt bounces off me and sticks on YOU!" /cast spell reflect<br />
<br />
"Your Mama is SO FAT they call her Therazane, Part 2!"Friday Macfayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488340330212549021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468877507401817290.post-26078927443549331312010-10-23T15:24:00.002-05:002010-11-21T12:31:58.776-06:00The NEW Arms Warrior <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1iznF__cEHdX2g9WD2bTEhg1jtO890S1sSHJp1O80A1Gz2nW1ooIvQS-IOD3CQCiAIOjKInqtM0Sn_AMf8_5SmwfK0Me5K-rAOfYoWmoASALMmMJk_luEXgPOw-v7XC2zelNYfvFoIsE/s1600/fridayico010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1iznF__cEHdX2g9WD2bTEhg1jtO890S1sSHJp1O80A1Gz2nW1ooIvQS-IOD3CQCiAIOjKInqtM0Sn_AMf8_5SmwfK0Me5K-rAOfYoWmoASALMmMJk_luEXgPOw-v7XC2zelNYfvFoIsE/s200/fridayico010.jpg" width="165" /></a></div>Stronger. Faster. More Experienced. Better.<br />
<br />
The new Arms Warrior post Patch 4.01 is just a joy to play. Two years ago I though Blizzard made Arms even more fun to play when Wrath released, and now they've gone and done it again! But there will be plenty of time to rave about how freakin' awesome we are (again) later. Let's get into the juicy stuff...<br />
<br />
<b>A Spec is a Spec</b><br />
<br />
Frist up we gotta look at Talent trees. With only 31 points per tree, I'm thinking this is the worse thing about 4.01/Cataclysm. With a few (mostly insignificant) variations, Blizz just basically said "Here's your spec... no picking any more."<br />
<br />
No real big, honestly. Everybody wore the same spec before, so it wasn't like variety was in abundance. Sure you could choose something other than the optimal spec, but no one ever did. Now you'd have to work pretty hard to mess up your spec. Click randomly and you'll get something decent. I'm just a little disappointed that the designers couldn't come up with something better than "we give up, you get one spec and here it is."<br />
<br />
So we'll all have the same basic spec, same basic gear, same basic glyphs, same basic enchants, with the same basic gems. I suppose you could say that it takes out the guesswork and lets you focus on playing more.<br />
<br />
That little QQ aside, though, Arms got some wicked good talents. The little bit of customization you can do is pretty neat and adds a little flavor. Which is technically a lot more flavor than we had in Wrath, so we'll be happy about it.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All my awesome stuffs no good after Cata launches. Which means NEW stuffs!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifA5pBA4tCisg7bDMfgfBVJ9b71OiFty_G5GgfLao1n3ePBOfHXKsgMCML06M1gljcwFx5lNsKphnulNAWe42Ob49bDzf-K2ffN14WLl7kIPctwG3mm82z4zD2Q-yYU_uvQyIjh6TcndA/s1600/friday046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><b>Opening a Can of ... </b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://cata.wowhead.com/talent#LGbcfRMRuMkZhb:RMcRMz0kM">Here's what I'm using</a> pre-Cataclysm and why. It's working out pretty good. (This is going to be a long one, so settle in.)<br />
<br />
I've removed Slam from my priorities list and replaced it with Heroic Strike and the occasional Cleave. Side by side, I'm not seeing the benefit of Slam at the moment. Spamming on a target dummy, I'm getting better numbers with Heroic Strike, and since it's instant cast now (thank God!), it's the perfect filler.<br />
<br />
Opener: Battle Shout, Charge, Rend, Mortal Strike, and then Overpower. Demoralizing Shout if called for.<br />
<br />
Priorities: Execute, Mortal Strike, Overpower, Heroic Strike. If Mortal Strike, then Overpower or Execute thanks to Lambs to the Slaughter. Keep Rend up with Thunderclap via Blood and Thunder. Follow Heroic Strike with another ASAP to take advantage of Incite. Rage burn or fill with Cleave on multimobs or Slam on single target. Keep Sweeping Strikes up on multiple mobs, but let it drop on single target. Bladestorm as soon as it's safe to do so and pop it as soon as it cools down.<br />
<br />
<br />
Fun, eh? :) <br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Being Talented</b><br />
<br />
So we have to put 31 points in Arms before we can go to the other trees. Easy enough. Spec straight to Bladestorm and you're good. <br />
<br />
Starting on the first row, War Academy and Blitz. Field Dressing is an optional talent you can decide on later. War Academy for the 10% buff to Heroic Strike and Cleave. Blitz because it's initial Rage, and it's fun to stun that crap out of multiple targets at once. Just make sure your tank has them where he wants them BEFORE you Charge. K? kk.<br />
<br />
<br />
Second row: Deep Wound and Drums of War. Deep Wounds because it's a super hot DoT! Drums of War because you're gonna be shouting a lot. No Second Wind or Tactical Mastery. Maybe Second Wind for a PvP build, but it doesn't look like it'll help much if you're stunned and getting stabby stabby in the butt from some over-caffeinated Rogue. Tactical Mastery is just a filler spot in the tree now and kinda disappointed Blizz didn't give some utility.<br />
<br />
Now that Battle Stance has a component that decreases damage, the additional 5% you get from switching to Defensive stance isn't going to be needed much. If you need that little bit, something has gone seriously wrong. Berserker Stance same thing. The 5% increase in damage isn't worth the abilities you loose by swapping stances. Again, Blizz just kinda said "We give up, here ya go" and didn't really make Stance dancing sexy or even needed. Ah well.<br />
<br />
Third row: Taste for Blood to get Overpower, Overpower, Overpower and more Overpower! Sweeping Strikes for those multi-mob pulls. Impale straight up buffing Mortal Strike and Overpower (and Slam if you're into that sort of thing). Imrpoved Hamstring if you want it. It's one of the "I like that" talents that's only necessary so you can get enough points to get to Bladestorm. If you PvP some, it's worth it. If not, you might pick something else.<br />
<br />
<br />
Forth row: Deadly Calm and Blood Frenzy. Again, if you use Slam then this is an obvious one. If you don't, it frees up two points to play with somewhere else. Deadly calm is neat if you're running low on Rage, but I haven't had that problem yet. Maybe when Cata hits. Blood Frenzy for the bleed buff (and a wee bit of extra physical damage). Plus the little proc bonus of extra Rage from auto-attacks.<br />
<br />
Fifth row: Lambs to the Slaughter and Juggernaut. LttS is an obvious one and affects your priorities. After you Mortal Strike, you definitely want to smash Overpower or Execute. This makes Mortal Strike coming before Overpower every chance you get, and it takes a little practice with Overpower proc'ing repeatedly thanks to Taste for Blood. Alas, Sudden Death isn't going to do anything until Colossus Smash becomes available, so skip it for now and pull in two points from your optional stuff after Cata launches.<br />
<br />
Sixth Row: Wrecking Crew is a Duh one. Yes, have that please. Throwdown is just plain fun. Arms Warriors went from no interrupts to TWO interrupts in one patch?!? Yes, please and thank you!<br />
<br />
And of course, Bladestorm, I love thy whirly goodness.<br />
<br />
<b>Other Trees</b><br />
<br />
In Fury, I only took Cruelty because Friday is one mean bi... um, I mean it's a straight damage buff. The other two choices, Battle Trance and Blood Craze, just didn't do anything for me. Battle Trance if you're running low on Rage, I suppose. Blood Craze if you were trying to build a self repairing Warrior. Not so sure how that will work out, though, so we'll wait until Cata to entertain those two selections.<br />
<br />
In Protection, I chose Incite because I'm using Heroic Strike so much. HS is doing so well right now, I just don't see any reason not to give it everything we can, even if I do start using Slam more. Blood and Thunder is just wicked. Being able to pop Rend up on multiple mobs with one button and keep it refreshed non-stop? That's blood rushing to your head and a thunderous Warrior-gasm!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Options</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
Blizz didn't leave us entirely without options, and I suppose that's the point. In the Arms Tree you're basically left with decisions to make about Field Dressing, Tactical Mastery, Second Wind, and Sudden Death. I took Field Dressing just because, as a Herbalist and Alchemist, I have several self heal abilities I pop all the time, and I'll take the free boost to healing effects as a bonus. Not necessary, at the moment, but it is a nice customization to tie in with my professions.<br />
<br />
I also took Improved Slam because I do hit it occasionally and nothing in the the other two trees looked better. I took Improved Hamstring just for grins in the battle grounds. I'll more than likely be pulling four to six points from these optional ones when Cata arrives, but we'll jump off that troll bridge when we get there.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizaLWGLy8-ZH3gbg0GhY6JZ-J2DH_Cfqiq1gvanvBO_o8aaby5VUTHyEQ8yZ85Cdn4dlEzMYjCb9nse1g9Q9VRJKDdtOSBhMIpU2sg-t5mkbu2jkSnnS_olUo-5pzREEUeWjxirVupF6E/s640/friday045.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wake up Friday! Fight! Wait... oh it's just the Headless Horseman. Dead in 49 seconds.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizaLWGLy8-ZH3gbg0GhY6JZ-J2DH_Cfqiq1gvanvBO_o8aaby5VUTHyEQ8yZ85Cdn4dlEzMYjCb9nse1g9Q9VRJKDdtOSBhMIpU2sg-t5mkbu2jkSnnS_olUo-5pzREEUeWjxirVupF6E/s1600/friday045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>We'll talk about Glyphs some other time, but my current choices are on the linked Talent spec page at Wowhead.<br />
<br />
For gems I'm sticking with straight Strength for now. No changes to Enchants. My gear has an aweful lot of Haste on it, which is fine, but I'm switching a lot of it, and a chunk of excess Hit, over to Mastery to see how good Strikes of Opportunity is going to be. So far, I like. <br />
<br />
Like I said at the beginning, being an Arms Warrior is just too much fun. The priority rotation may look a little daunting, but it's quite easy when you get some practice with it. Having those options in combat is way more fun than some set rotation where you punch the same buttons over and over again in sequence.<br />
<br />
Welcome to the New Arms Warrior. It's wicked good! :D<br />
<br />
-FriFriday Macfayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488340330212549021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468877507401817290.post-89721208866015631302010-10-10T12:35:00.000-05:002010-11-21T12:31:52.357-06:00Anatomy of a Wipe in 10 Easy Steps<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYNW2g5wJDSKDhBdcHIOIvgX7oTa07qi6zTKSiWpUIcCirWu3teO7B2M4I87w6V2rCh1dOHdJBzpjbeZoW-ewxQZKAlcYrixfIMiuRb8H_mJ0OAX5L1FNQyDd3gczD-KH6eAZbMPbfRM/s1600/fridayico008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYNW2g5wJDSKDhBdcHIOIvgX7oTa07qi6zTKSiWpUIcCirWu3teO7B2M4I87w6V2rCh1dOHdJBzpjbeZoW-ewxQZKAlcYrixfIMiuRb8H_mJ0OAX5L1FNQyDd3gczD-KH6eAZbMPbfRM/s1600/fridayico008.jpg" /></a></div>Following up on the last post . . .<br />
<br />
Yes, another PoS wipe with one angry player going all nerd ragey and quitting the group.<br />
<br />
Now, don't get me wrong, I don't think anyone should be wiping a lot in PoS. Seriously. It's not a terribly difficult dungeon run. My issue is with the person who causes the wipe in the first place, nerd rages, and still doesn't understand how the wipe happened.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>The Story</b><br />
<br />
Our random consisted of a DK tank, a Druid healer, a hunter (no idea what flavor), a mage (frost judging by all the ice being thrown around), and me in Arms.<br />
<br />
Over all, a pretty solid group. The gear levels are pretty wide, so it's not going to be a walk through, but as long as everyone doesn't SIS*, we're good.<br />
<br />
The wipe occurs on the hill. We set up for the first pull and the tank kindly marks the two fire guys that like to kill everyone instantly and suck the healer dry. Me and Hunter beeline for the skull, mage-boy hits the X first. I figure at least he hit a marked target, so we're good. The tank has to pull a mob off the mage and heath bars start dropping, but by then hunter and I can start aoe, so we mow the bad guys down. Easy enough.<br />
<br />
So we pull the second group, and again Hunter and I are on the skull, but mage-boy is pounding away on random mob #4. He yanks aggro. The tank can't see him. Bam, down goes the Mage while the healer tries frantically to keep him and the tank up at the same time. The healer pulls aggro, and Bam down he goes. DK frantically tries to get it under control, hoping me and Hunter can just burn them down, but five mobs pounding away with no heals isn't gonna work. Down he goes.<br />
<br />
Now hunter and I are popping cooldowns, I'm in Def trying to tank and half a second after the tank eats it, Hunter FDs. At this point I'm scrambling around for the Vanish key. Oh, wait, I don't have Vanish. I have... oh @#$! it.<br />
<br />
<b>WTF Happened</b><br />
<br />
So why did this happen? Let's break it down.<br />
<br />
On that particular pull it is absolutely essential to obliterate the two fire casting guys. Unless you have an ICC geared healer and/or tank, the damage output from that group of mobs will kill your tank fast and the healer just can only just barely keep him up. Thus, the tank marks the kill order and DPS follows the kill order.<br />
<br />
Mage boy hit a mob the tank wasn't going to worry about. The tank had enough AoE threat on that target to hold him through normal healing, but not enough to keep aggro if someone started pounding the mob. The tank is concerned with holding the mobs that DPS is <i>suppose</i> to be hitting.<br />
<br />
Mage boy is also standing practically on top of the mob he's unloading on, which increases his threat significantly! So naturally he pulled.<br />
<br />
Now the tank is taking a massive amounts of damage, and the mage has joined him on the hit parade. As the tank turns to try to pull the mob off the mage, he starts taking shots in the ass, with no chance to Dodge or Perry, thus taking even more damage.<br />
<br />
The healer, meantime, has gone from steady measured heals to panic spam heal mode. As he pours heal after heal into the mage and the tank at the same time, HoTs stacking up the longer the mage stays alive, he's dramatically increasing his threat. At this point, the healer is number two on the threat meter. Guess where that mob is going to go?<br />
<br />
Now the healer is in a no-win situation. He can protect and heal himself. Or he can keep the tank up. Or he can try to do both. I can think of a few PvP healers that could pull this off. But most PvE healers are dead meat.<br />
<br />
Now the tank has virtually no time to recover the stray mob. The healer takes a couple of shots, chooses to heal the tank, and down goes the healer. Probably faster than he thought possible. The tank is desperately trying to get everything under control when suddenly none of his buttons are working and his toon has decided to take a dirt nap.<br />
<br />
This is how most wipes occur. They almost always start with DPS doing something they shouldn't be doing. Almost Every Single Time.<br />
<br />
<b>10 Step Program</b><br />
<br />
Step 1. DPS pulls aggo.<br />
Step 2. Healer heals DPS (increasing threat).<br />
Step 3. Healer tosses massive panic heal to Tank (increasing threat).<br />
Step 4. Healer has to decide to heal tank or DPS.<br />
Step 5. Healer chooses to heal tank, chucking in some AoE heals (increasing threat).<br />
Step 6. DPS dies.<br />
Step 7. Healer is now tops on threat for that mob (and possibly others).<br />
Step 8. Healer dies.<br />
Step 9. Tank dies.<br />
Step 10. Rest of the DPS dies.<br />
<br />
Run back and try again.<br />
<br />
In Wrath, in this senario, either the tank is expected to pick up the stray mob, or the healer is expected to drop threat or heal through the whole mess. DPS basically has no responsibility except to pour as much damage into the mobs as possible.<br />
<br />
Prior to Wrath this wasn't the case. It started getting that way toward the end of BC. Now with Cataclysm changing everything back to the way it was, DPS is simply going to have to adjust.<br />
<br />
Turn off your DPS meter. Turn on your Threat meter. Be prepared to survive.<br />
<br />
No more free rides DPSers. Time to L2P.<br />
<br />
Since we've been over proper DPSing a bajillion times, next time we're going to look at an old form of crowd control that hasn't been used in 5-mans since the early BC-era; it's called Off Tanking. In particular, Arms Warriors are looking like they might be pretty darn good at it!<br />
<br />
-Fri<br />
<br />
*Stand in S#&!Friday Macfayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488340330212549021noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468877507401817290.post-2248384250109305792010-09-15T13:56:00.000-05:002010-09-15T20:46:56.737-05:00The Approahcing Train Wreck<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCfxsTuvj4KTMXB85mAmjUBVQavOJZlfND3UDOmbRwJonno7tRaQ-8dtDj9L4lDAebDVZZtBJa64hfhxcGovh1TUNtq3AKkmnjOVpZTlnLmTu6I6WCJELLQN6u-j0nciXMfidY_FXL7o/s1600/fridayico009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCfxsTuvj4KTMXB85mAmjUBVQavOJZlfND3UDOmbRwJonno7tRaQ-8dtDj9L4lDAebDVZZtBJa64hfhxcGovh1TUNtq3AKkmnjOVpZTlnLmTu6I6WCJELLQN6u-j0nciXMfidY_FXL7o/s200/fridayico009.jpg" width="125" /></a></div>There's one coming. It's called Cataclysm 5-Man Dungeons. And we are all going to die. A lot.<br />
<br />
The other night in Guild Chat we were discussing what we were going to do first when Cataclysm launches. Pretty basic stuff. "Imma start a Worgan!" "I'm going to make a Human Hunter!" "I'm going blast to 85 and check out the new zones!" and so on. <br />
<br />
Me? I'm gonna barge, bully, bash and bone run my way to the dungeon entrances and start running the 5-mans.<br />
<br />
I love them.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7E9EuSR82sq3O58jd79kSBbRjeyWPuOobFN4dIrKSi7FQRJNNB0kFlfzlLzN3Z5ULe1Pnduw3xSuKdPOIZ1h3WC-amMteHyF1DB_v5FOs053A1uOvJ_354ms80etxDxts45W_N9Lcfs/s1600/friday043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7E9EuSR82sq3O58jd79kSBbRjeyWPuOobFN4dIrKSi7FQRJNNB0kFlfzlLzN3Z5ULe1Pnduw3xSuKdPOIZ1h3WC-amMteHyF1DB_v5FOs053A1uOvJ_354ms80etxDxts45W_N9Lcfs/s320/friday043.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Solo'ing VC at 38 for Mount money!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Ever since Friday and I spent three hours in Deadmines at level 16 and didn't even get half way through. I'm not even sure we had a "tank." It was the brute force approach to dungeon running. Attack (not pull) one thing at a time and kill it, then go on to the next. Which of course didn't work. We'd get a multi-mob pull and all hell would break loose. Someone would yell "pat!" and the rest of us would look around going "who the hell is Pat?!?" We'd die, but we took two of the bastards with us! Run back and try again!<br />
<br />
And yes, that was fun! By 20 Friday had tanked VC as DW Arms by stacking Agility. I didn't know what avoidance was, but not getting hit sounded like a great plan. She solo'd the instance at 30. In fact, that's how I made enough gold to buy my first mount!<br />
<br />
So it doesn't matter how hard the dungeon is, it's just fun to run them. I don't mind wiping as long as everyone is getting along and having a good time. Who cares, right?<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAZGnMzJrgcxFVFkeCpjDJx4IxU6gGHXwuTZrqjsthSlxGqxrdwbEfPNiJYO1XwGzOa8GHtdPQWJEUc-DxIu7NU3o7bmXZwAX2uvWsFpa1-0nYEhBrmqabr-JG_MPCFgxA9rt2hFjqw0/s1600/friday041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAZGnMzJrgcxFVFkeCpjDJx4IxU6gGHXwuTZrqjsthSlxGqxrdwbEfPNiJYO1XwGzOa8GHtdPQWJEUc-DxIu7NU3o7bmXZwAX2uvWsFpa1-0nYEhBrmqabr-JG_MPCFgxA9rt2hFjqw0/s320/friday041.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For the Pony!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I've been leveling up Rowen the Rogue a bit and enjoying the random dungeon finder. Old world instances need a LOT of love. Rowen basically tanked VC at 18. Most of the rest are a breeze with an even half-way competent crew. With the plethora of Wrath Babies running through them, they were pretty much like Northrend Dungeons. Pull, faceroll, pull, faceroll, stop for loot, repeat. <br />
<br />
It's kind of funny to watch some newer players that are use to free T10 gear and small AoE pulls go all nerd rage when they suddenly pull 20 mobs in BRD and wipe. I LOL'd a lot. I didn't LOL so much when that tactic actually worked! Wha?!?<br />
<br />
Then Rowen started this weekend on Outland Dungeons. Even nerfed as they are, they aren't easy to faceroll unless everybody does their job properly. You can't AoE the room full of mobs in Shattered Hells. You do and you die. Nerd rage ensues. It's not pretty.<br />
<br />
On one run through Ramps we went through 4 dps and 2 healers and 2 tanks. On Ramps! SRS?!?<br />
<br />
These people would quit the group after one wipe! I'm sorry but I don't have time to re-queue for 30 minutes just because some twit doesn't understand basic concepts of threat and aggro. Gah! Luckily, the groups tend to fill fast, but really. <br />
<br />
I don't even have a problem with them not understand basic play mechanics. I love noobs. What I can't stand is the people that get all shitty about a wipe and then quit the group with no desire to understand why it happened in the first place! There's a difference between being ignorant and being an idiot. One is curable.<br />
<br />
<br />
Enter Cataclysm. The devs have said that 5-mans in Cat will be between BC and Wrath in difficulty. If that works out, there's going to be quite a few players that are in for a rude shock. Commence the train wreck.<br />
<br />
Wrath Babies I get. They might have picked up some basic dungeon group concepts if they ran heroics in greens and blues. They probably had a few experienced players to guide them through that. For the most part though, they quickly get to a place where they can slap on decent gear and run through Wrath dungeons with barely a breath. (Does anyone remember having to call for a bio in 5-mans?)<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJhzRAwWY0CjxDKf6tUPCDJdWX6FtHPNAXT51qz9mSbI30RqXXKYhyphenhyphendia4VYXzMmZKcjLE9BCDMz_2frBe9AypxNLVSol033__ukGUoKegoaW16RG-VxYGlgBxae7Kf3MkOi9UewY_Q0/s1600/friday042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJhzRAwWY0CjxDKf6tUPCDJdWX6FtHPNAXT51qz9mSbI30RqXXKYhyphenhyphendia4VYXzMmZKcjLE9BCDMz_2frBe9AypxNLVSol033__ukGUoKegoaW16RG-VxYGlgBxae7Kf3MkOi9UewY_Q0/s320/friday042.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learning about threat the hard way in SM Cath.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Don't get me wrong, I liked most of Wrath's 5-mans. But at a certain, early point, they just became badge runs. Nothing terribly wrong with that, I suppose, but at some point all you're doing is the same dailies and the same badge runs over and over again. That's less entertainment and more like a task. Blah.<br />
<br />
I don't get the experienced players that have just gotten lazy. I see the Warrior tank that doesn't know what an LOS pull is and has no idea what I mean when I offer to cc the bomb dropping Technician. I get that. I see the Pally tank that DOES know what an LOS pull is and then charges in anyway, rounds up the whole room, and then stands there in the ooze and dies, all the while screaming "WHY IS NO ONE ATTACKING?!?" <br />
<br />
Sorry, I don't want to get green ooze on my pretty new purple boots. Maybe you could scooch them over just a bit? Please? Thanks.<br />
<br />
I just have a bad feeling that when (if?) they up the difficulty factor a notch or two in Cataclysm, there's going to be a lot more of this. The Outland dungeons have been nerfed to hell and in about two dozen runs I have yet to see a group make it all the way through intact, or I've come into the group as a filler.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpNNNZCnOd0frQJAFLbR7NFNgl88hcZ71pvM4S9JzmbdUss5uB6nrq-dZOw1QQvrGWH6GGA84Dj2zpyfJj21yRDiP4HVbY9DboXz1pvs0Mqyi19cXhv-7d6u2Twleb5AQOyg7oiMiY5k/s320/friday040.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L2P Fri! Be prepared! No Outland in your underwear!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpNNNZCnOd0frQJAFLbR7NFNgl88hcZ71pvM4S9JzmbdUss5uB6nrq-dZOw1QQvrGWH6GGA84Dj2zpyfJj21yRDiP4HVbY9DboXz1pvs0Mqyi19cXhv-7d6u2Twleb5AQOyg7oiMiY5k/s1600/friday040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>I'm guilty of it, too. For the first time in years I got called to task by a tank in PoS for pulling aggro! Wha?!? He even had the gall to suggest I use the target of target feature!!! My first reaction was "Quit being such a lame ass tank, bitch!"<br />
<br />
But he was right. We were never in any danger and I took a few shots to the melon and an heal or two. Yes, the tank was way below my gear level. I should have been adjusting my DPS to match his threat output. He was doing fine. (Controlling your DPS when spec'd Fury is not easy, but that's another post entirely.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Guys, if you can't handle a wipe or two (or five), you need to get into some of the Outland dungeons and L2P. Serious. If you don't understand threat, aggro, when to use cc, when not to use AoE, what LOS is, etc. you're gonna be hurting come Cataclysm.<br />
<br />
I know I'm taking Rowen's adventures as refresher course. <br />
<br />
I suspect, though, that with the right group, Cat dungeons are gonna be monster fun, wipes and all. Bring on the train! :)<br />
<br />
-FriFriday Macfayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488340330212549021noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468877507401817290.post-40762885316921002092010-08-29T11:26:00.000-05:002010-09-15T12:11:55.529-05:00For the.... Horde?!?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqpnqSR-OmaFPP3r9RCuAzqS6SjXWwYl2-mpc_0ohzRDZLLVa90ZHVEu_RS0jLmmevf_Rb8wXCIuR8CKDgqcyyJHbxEJrd7c72VFDSOXiDiLw3rvp861gX2zqq_Nb4I6tqsHpHlK5Uhc/s1600/fridayico008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqpnqSR-OmaFPP3r9RCuAzqS6SjXWwYl2-mpc_0ohzRDZLLVa90ZHVEu_RS0jLmmevf_Rb8wXCIuR8CKDgqcyyJHbxEJrd7c72VFDSOXiDiLw3rvp861gX2zqq_Nb4I6tqsHpHlK5Uhc/s320/fridayico008.jpg" /></a>I have a confession to make.<br />
<br />
I'm leveling a toon Horde-side.<br />
<br />
I know, right?!?<br />
<br />
Let me 'splain. . .<br />
<br />
I've always liked PvP. Maybe more like a love/hate relationship would be a better description than "like." Playing a Warrior in PvP is tough. It takes patience and a lot of dying over and over to gear up before you're even remotely effective. It also takes a lot of calm, cool, methodical planning and maneuvering to be good at it.<br />
<br />
Yah, that's not really me.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFypcUAekehMazDZ3adcr_x_9GezctJZCsultJoIWKD7ze99MKU1CKyn1xtjqpBWYhpL6_ju6Bl6pgEGTS5tnPX6Ez0_sA4KPTVO9RJDET2JjTMiOSc6U46BjGO1IoQSU2CGyQT-FNgU/s1600/neveron004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFypcUAekehMazDZ3adcr_x_9GezctJZCsultJoIWKD7ze99MKU1CKyn1xtjqpBWYhpL6_ju6Bl6pgEGTS5tnPX6Ez0_sA4KPTVO9RJDET2JjTMiOSc6U46BjGO1IoQSU2CGyQT-FNgU/s320/neveron004.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neveron, Violet, and Shortbella pay a visit. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I can do it, but sometimes in PvP ya just wanna mash some heads and create mayhem in a "kill 'em all" induced frenzy.<br />
<br />
So when I started leveling a Rogue, I naturally slipped into PvP with her. Hey, there's some good leveling gear available from honor that works well with the BoA stuff too! And OMG, a rogue is WAY more fun to play in PvP. Way! I use to hate rogues, but now I realize why. It's 'cause they have so much damn fun in Battlegrounds! Jealous!<br />
<br />
The whole rogue thing was great. Then they turned on XP gains for Battlegrounds and I figured I'd heal my way to 80 on the Priest. Which was even MOAR fun than playing a rogue. Here we have the calm, cool of a Warrior combined with the HaHa-Gotcha of a Rogue and the intense challenge of keeping everyone around you upright and breathing while being focused 99.9% of the time.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpnzA-raxKzk4-2KnsQk-JxZmwSyT2MdnWC6pfXAOJGvrD0uUgQGY3zXqJ73OMr8pCCdfLN0Ou59DSPmjg43vUYmTcBGgib0G03y4SaaK0JrLC4VSMeQhau8EX4jHMKc-bFGuq1lNHWzI/s1600/friday036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpnzA-raxKzk4-2KnsQk-JxZmwSyT2MdnWC6pfXAOJGvrD0uUgQGY3zXqJ73OMr8pCCdfLN0Ou59DSPmjg43vUYmTcBGgib0G03y4SaaK0JrLC4VSMeQhau8EX4jHMKc-bFGuq1lNHWzI/s320/friday036.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Title: Spike-killer Fridaymacfay.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>So, some people at work started up the office guild again and I agreed to play. Unfortunately, they all play Horde. Gah! I mean, nothing wrong with the Horde, except you know... they're Horde!<br />
<br />
I picked a Tauren cause they seemed the less Horde-like, to me. (Wow, they move slow. Feels like it, anywho.) And since I never tried one before, and I liked healing so much on the priest, I decided to try a Resto Druid.<br />
<br />
The verdict: Fun. Way fun. Huge, mondo, Tauren-sized fun!<br />
<br />
K, I still don't care for the whole Horde-experience thing. Nothing wrong with it, just not my bag of doughnuts. Playing through some areas from the other side, though, is very interesting. Now that leveling is fairly easy, I can pick and choose what quest lines to follow and then just random dungeon or PvP my way past those I don't care for.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vmcTZMI56jnFiShqdXd_D6aU5k7XcOGpJz5-tIxaURtwYnuq1fAEQXwJ4vhHNdXTqM7Fr81L8ehqsp6pib0Yibtdh-BQVJiODf0XReI7xZYWf-WemItkwe7k_iXR-01ydbHPKrd7W7I/s1600/friday037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vmcTZMI56jnFiShqdXd_D6aU5k7XcOGpJz5-tIxaURtwYnuq1fAEQXwJ4vhHNdXTqM7Fr81L8ehqsp6pib0Yibtdh-BQVJiODf0XReI7xZYWf-WemItkwe7k_iXR-01ydbHPKrd7W7I/s320/friday037.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the face!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>In the BGs, though, a druid is just four different kinds of WICKED! Literally. Focused? Bear! Not focused? Heal! Need to tear some ass? Kittah! Need to haul ass? Lil' Kittah! Druid in PvP is like a Swiss Army Knife with teeth!<br />
<br />
In WSG, for example, I've flag carried as Prot before. That's like being an armored truck. Grab the flag and keep trudging along with Shield Wall and Shield Block and hope to hell you get heal or two as you trundle your way all the way home.<br />
<br />
FC as a druid is just grins. Room full of defenders? HoT, HoT, HoT, Bear, grab the flag, get outside, little kitty all the way home, cap! There's a very good reason why you hate Druid FCs. :)<br />
<br />
On D, just root the FC in place and you'll have "Not in My House" on your first battle! <br />
<br />
I know that all this is something Druids have known for years. But if you've never even considered playing a Druid, give it a shot. Even if it's only for the fun in BGs. Definitely a quintessential WoW experience!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSzaAAm2lJ2wZgW-YNb24OBfcaut4VcmNjMd37dzV-7K-HS-r8asO42wVzlIjVp6m4xWojXblKhZWFAh8R2kCrdX6EvDTeb8DkyjxyuTyzH9T4m8aQpEwOuRa7FgCUrnNgntDAQfrhsQ/s1600/friday038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSzaAAm2lJ2wZgW-YNb24OBfcaut4VcmNjMd37dzV-7K-HS-r8asO42wVzlIjVp6m4xWojXblKhZWFAh8R2kCrdX6EvDTeb8DkyjxyuTyzH9T4m8aQpEwOuRa7FgCUrnNgntDAQfrhsQ/s320/friday038.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The proper attire for herbing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>If you switch factions, though, just remember which side you're playing for. Running along-side the human pally FC trying to figure out why you can't attack that stinkin' undead mage can be a bit embarrassing. Not that I've done that, of course, I'm just saying . . . <br />
<br />
-FriFriday Macfayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488340330212549021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468877507401817290.post-6693979141108673462010-07-17T20:38:00.001-05:002010-09-15T12:11:50.070-05:00Cata-Warriory Things I'm Excited AboutSo I spent a month researching and writing the whole Arms Quirks thing and Blizzard goes and changes the whole damn thing! You would think I'd know better. So, scrap that...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtS-6y_UKnPJHDocU31EamfkbWoPwoq6xcPUcgsc3PgmvY3KL2uj8OhyphenhyphenhdbktdnQf_BuY-bAbcg58ThboM6c39RhDtdEgT-hrSWunLBnM7vUA7iLpCNu3YMeEydEN60zlQ8zR2zBTkcxU/s1600/friday033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtS-6y_UKnPJHDocU31EamfkbWoPwoq6xcPUcgsc3PgmvY3KL2uj8OhyphenhyphenhdbktdnQf_BuY-bAbcg58ThboM6c39RhDtdEgT-hrSWunLBnM7vUA7iLpCNu3YMeEydEN60zlQ8zR2zBTkcxU/s320/friday033.jpg" /></a></div>That little frustration aside, though, I'm pretty excited about the changes they've shown so far for Arms Warriors in Cataclysm! All still very beta, subject to massive change, and spoiler warnings for the remaining of this post, blah blah blah.<br />
<br />
In some respects (you might have to use a little biased imagination here), Arms Warriors are becoming the model for most other specs and class. What? Sure! Think of it this way:<br />
<br />
Arms Warrior abilities have always been very proc-based. Because of this, you never really have a set, repeated rotation. You might have an opening that sets you up for a better chance of getting those procs, but mostly it's a set of priorities that change pretty radically when something does proc.<br />
<br />
This way of playing makes an Arms Warrior feel more like actually fighting. You maneuver for advantage and when it shows itself, you shove your pointy stick right up it's wazoo. Taking advantage of split second opportunities (by chance or design) is what being a warrior in a fight is all about.<br />
<br />
So far, it looks like Cataclysm is gonna bring that to a lot of classes. Arms Warriors don't look like they'll change that much, in that regard, and seem to be getting a little fun love from the developers, as well! Let's have a look where we're at so far.<br />
<a name='more'></a>Let me interject here and say that if anyone has a beta key, please send it to me because I Want It. Thanks.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0F87hLK6SZsrLwhiBzayFNt2ja9YiW1kkUEh2wRdUozj7zb94O90K4c-KNYSLtGtka_LB1KNwhMboBwKfLe4cVizgSiihNTu0goKmvYqlhUjCuCKpcS5cpKckcv5_gYBtfCO_CyZ3AhI/s1600/friday034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0F87hLK6SZsrLwhiBzayFNt2ja9YiW1kkUEh2wRdUozj7zb94O90K4c-KNYSLtGtka_LB1KNwhMboBwKfLe4cVizgSiihNTu0goKmvYqlhUjCuCKpcS5cpKckcv5_gYBtfCO_CyZ3AhI/s320/friday034.jpg" /></a></div>First, I'm excited about two new playable abilities; Heroic Leap and Throwdown!<br />
<br />
Heroic Leap was suppose to make it into Wrath, but got the axe. Apparently, Blizzard has tried again and might actually get it to work. At first, I thought this might be a fancy version of Charge. But oh no no no no. This is a real leap. You target a spot on the ground and WHAM! You leap over there. Heoroicly even! This has so many fun possibilities!<br />
<br />
From the recent Twitter chat:<br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<div style="background-color: black; color: #6fa8dc;"><b><i>We're pretty happy with it so far. The version we have right now lets the warrior target where they want to leap, so they can use it as an escape tool as well. We all know paladins would never retreat from a battle, but warriors have been known to do so.</i></b> </div><br />
Retreat my ass! Jumpy little Belf Rogue trying to Sprint away? Heroic Leap. Land in front of him. Lop of his head. Fun! Blinky mage giving you fits? No problem! Heroic Leap. Land in front of him. Lop of his head. More Fun! Did the silly Shammy make the Bad Guy drop fire all around you, again? Heroic Leap-sauce! (And then lop off his head. Silly Shammy.) I like this ability already.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJyEhrgmKzXN5yA_HGU4YruPX2vYn16SQna1M5WTDNz58Pu2BiDDLOF-WA8SJqHIb712xZjowg25zuc5WPjJJeDwK3jIiDj0U0eCv-iximXOYkmyDb9JPmXvGmNYs9nSi-UOpMhN578w/s1600/ourgirl001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJyEhrgmKzXN5yA_HGU4YruPX2vYn16SQna1M5WTDNz58Pu2BiDDLOF-WA8SJqHIb712xZjowg25zuc5WPjJJeDwK3jIiDj0U0eCv-iximXOYkmyDb9JPmXvGmNYs9nSi-UOpMhN578w/s320/ourgirl001.jpg" /></a>Throwdown is really just something they're messing with at this point, apparently. But it sure would be fun. The idea is an ability that would knock a Bad Guy to the ground for 5 seconds. Yes! Sure, we'll still have good old Pummel, but having something like this as an actual Arms Warrior ability would be wicked cool. Being able to knockemontheirass would be handy in both PvP and PvE. Win.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: black; color: #6fa8dc;">One ability we are trying out for Arms is "Throwdown," which lets them knock an opponent to the ground for five seconds. Since it's usable in Battle Stance, they can also use it as a Pummel in a pinch.</div><br />
So, that's a lotta fun right there. We also have the new <a href="http://cata.wowhead.com/talent#L">talent tree</a> for Arms.<br />
<br />
We get <a href="http://cata.wowhead.com/spell=12294">Mortal Strike</a>, <a href="http://cata.wowhead.com/spell=12296">Anger Management</a>, and <a href="http://cata.wowhead.com/spell=12712">Two Handed Weapon Specialization</a> right off the bat at Level 10. Yes, Mortal Strike!<br />
<br />
It's not really the iconic Arms Warrior ability anymore now that many classes have basically the same thing. And it is watered down considerably. Still, we'll probably have it before any other class does, and it is still very much part of being an Arms Warrior.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://cata.wowhead.com/spell=84572">War Academy</a> has Heroic Strike attached to it, as do several Arms-reachable talents in the Fury and Prot trees. Pretty good indicator that the new Heroic Strike will be used a lot more than it is now.<br />
<br />
What will it be? Dunno. Can't wait to find out, though. See, to other classes Mortal Strike is the iconic Arms Warrior ability. To a real Warrior, though, Heroic Strike is the thing. We start with it, it's with us all the time. It is THE Warrior ability. It would be nice to have our old friend back and useful again!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPP4yu_kI_m8so_ssFQlkjKcbJrkjwS6qV0lkOVFnXsrEt8Xf85rePL_AR2U_yPsLiz0KTqmw1BDOF02aTllj2nZOO03BBMCfFvMjE8OcW7KnWqmkIGPtvxJyUay2dtHj-ijQ-CBsYVk/s1600/ourgirl002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlPP4yu_kI_m8so_ssFQlkjKcbJrkjwS6qV0lkOVFnXsrEt8Xf85rePL_AR2U_yPsLiz0KTqmw1BDOF02aTllj2nZOO03BBMCfFvMjE8OcW7KnWqmkIGPtvxJyUay2dtHj-ijQ-CBsYVk/s320/ourgirl002.jpg" /></a>For the record, I have no problem at all with Heroic Strike being on a Swing Timer. I like it, in fact. It's a Warriory ability! It simulates that timing and patience a warrior should have to unload the big smashass at just the right moment! It's a unique Warrior thing to be able to "cast" an ability, do something else, and then have the "cast" go off as the coup de grace.<br />
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Whatever they do to Heroic Strike, I hope they make it feel that way<br />
<br />
<br />
The other fun thing I like so far is <a href="http://cata.wowhead.com/spell=84580">Field Dressing</a>. So, combine that with Second Wind and, later, maybe Bloodcraze, and suddenly you've got a self-healing Warrior. It's not Pally-Power, mind you, but what caught my eye was how Field Dressing also improves all healing done.<br />
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So, PvP ability? Or.... drumroll.... Arms Tank?!?<br />
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I can see a <a href="http://cata.wowhead.com/talent#LGrGkcozrGoZI0M">build like this one</a> being tuned to actually make an Arms Warrior tank-ish. With the right gear and stats. Maybe. It's interesting.<br />
<br />
Just dreaming a little. :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCv9V9EBQV3oC9d1Mx_ZyWawTZfxQTl2WzQyBVtdCgkmo8jgdWaPoStliXfykODTj8nyFV36d7aDkDpxYheTffF2ca_gPIjSupGGiMMajIOOoKL16Z2XFOpb8l-CoZyPC-a12j_rX5mpk/s1600/friday035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCv9V9EBQV3oC9d1Mx_ZyWawTZfxQTl2WzQyBVtdCgkmo8jgdWaPoStliXfykODTj8nyFV36d7aDkDpxYheTffF2ca_gPIjSupGGiMMajIOOoKL16Z2XFOpb8l-CoZyPC-a12j_rX5mpk/s320/friday035.jpg" /></a>Regardless, it certainly looks like Blizz is giving Warriors a nice treatment in Cataclysm. Something different, but something distinctive that will, hopefully, continue the trend of making a Warrior feel like a Warrior.<br />
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Let's see what's next... Bring It!<br />
<br />
-FriFriday Macfayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488340330212549021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468877507401817290.post-14539749920527919692010-06-06T12:19:00.005-05:002010-06-12T13:57:44.539-05:00Arms Quirks: Introduction<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdiXJ0aXTRc4h-xhnpk7gdbH4wxv_WGRwUF73L8ZIF265dMyt5AMrxjBZzPoCou7mjhNxV2IqMtuakB0kAMbIs1jYk67W-ifbkaMTRKXX5bHWUKeoI3x9GF4XwckZlQd5ECFGkuUSDRQ/s1600/fridayico007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdiXJ0aXTRc4h-xhnpk7gdbH4wxv_WGRwUF73L8ZIF265dMyt5AMrxjBZzPoCou7mjhNxV2IqMtuakB0kAMbIs1jYk67W-ifbkaMTRKXX5bHWUKeoI3x9GF4XwckZlQd5ECFGkuUSDRQ/s200/fridayico007.jpg" width="157" /></a>Is there really anything "bad" about being an Arms Warrior?!?<br />
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Of course not!<br />
<br />
However, looking at those minor dings of imperfection couldn't hurt (much) and might just make us better Warriors. So, this isn't so much a QQ as it is a self improvement series.<br />
<br />
As I'm sure is apparent by now, I'm not much of a gear-head. In fact, if the entire way gear was handled in WoW was changed to "what looks awesomesauce!" I'd be perfectly happy. I love my current armor, even if the pants have saddle bags (really?) and the shoulders and hat are a little too poky for my liking. Best looking set since the Grand Marshall stuff way back at 60. The Undead Slayer armor comes close, too, of course.<br />
<br />
Anyhoo, I'm gonna focus mainly on abilities and how-to fighting for Arms in these posts. There's a few things about Arms that are tricky to pull off, and situations where you really, really need to be able to compensate for the dings in your armor.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQTV6ZCSrVcOW1wFhYCcuJv-GQMOJeWfFuzzpuICHOiCF_rHHvjHrGlC8rFaLwvuujTGfcKoqP6ERw_sb0AaYeFj9l0Ej0eniCuAchCOY87QIZ-2irPOG7hVIz3fearuz35zm9EEoGkY/s1600/friday031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQTV6ZCSrVcOW1wFhYCcuJv-GQMOJeWfFuzzpuICHOiCF_rHHvjHrGlC8rFaLwvuujTGfcKoqP6ERw_sb0AaYeFj9l0Ej0eniCuAchCOY87QIZ-2irPOG7hVIz3fearuz35zm9EEoGkY/s320/friday031.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
We're gonna look at:<br />
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<a href="http://fridaymacfay.blogspot.com/2010/06/arms-quirks-night-at-balle.html">The Pretty Ballerina Bladestorm Nerf</a> - Bladestorm can now be Disarmed. Really? I mean, really?<br />
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Stance Dancing - You still need macros to dance. Why? Good question but you still need them.<br />
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The Specialization Penalty - Why Arms Warriors are the only spec that gets "srprz! buttsecks!" every time you pick up a new shiny pointy stick.<br />
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Retaliation - The "Ha Ha right!" of Warrior abilities.<br />
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Interrupting - You don't have one, but you can get one for only $9.99 plus shipping and handling.<br />
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Gearing - Why is it so @$#%$ing hard to find a Trinket?!?<br />
<br />
<br />
It takes a lot of work to be a good Arms Warrior. Let's get to it!<br />
<br />
-FriFriday Macfayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488340330212549021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468877507401817290.post-74356703147392974922010-06-06T12:18:00.006-05:002010-07-12T06:29:12.948-05:00Arms Quirks: A Night At the BalletI suppose we have to start with what Adam Holinksy, the Warrior guru at WoW Insider, calls "The Pretty Balarina Nerf." As of Patch 3.3.3, Bladestorm is now be subject to disarm effects. So if anyone/everyone Disarms you, you'll just be "spinnin' like a fool with our sword on the ground."<br />
<br />
<div>Problem: Bladestorm can be disarmed.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>Solution: Don't use it. Maybe Retaliation will make a comeback in level cap PvP? :)<br />
<br />
</div><div>This is one of those where someone at Blizzard found the nerf bat laying in a closet somewhere and said "Ooooo, we haven't smacked Arms Warriors in a long while... C'mere."<br />
<br />
</div><div>In PvE...<br />
<br />
</div><div>Doesn't really make much difference. Worse thing that can happen is a mob will disarm you and you'll drop a bit of DPS. Cliiiick it off and start over.</div><div>If you're really, really concerned about it, just memorize which mobs will randomly drop aggro off the tank and disarm a random party member. Then don't use Bladestorm around those mobs, or wait until the use the ability and then use Bladestorm. There's can't be more than a handful of mobs with that ability.<br />
<br />
In PvP...<br />
<br />
Not sure why Blizz decided to nerf Arms warriors in PvP, but this change was clearly directed that way. I wonder if we still get to use our fists? Did Somebody Order a Knuckle Sandwich!<br />
<br />
</div><div>Bladestorm wasn't that great in PvP to begin with since as soon as you used it everyone would focus you, run out of the way, and you'd have no way to defend yourself. It was a quick and dirty cc break if you needed it. It was good situationally, at best.<br />
<br />
I've seen warriors, though, that just pop Bladestorm over and over again every time it pops. Bad!<br />
<br />
So, Bladestorm was already a situational ability in PvP to begin with. You really can't just go all spinny whenever you want. If you're focused, you'll get smeared. And some form of cc on your targets is ideal. Waiting until that mage hits freezy feet and THEN Bladestorming is wonderful.<br />
<br />
The nerf adds another level of awareness to using the ability. Now ya gots to watch out for any class that can disarm you. Other warriors and rogues being the main culprits.<br />
<br />
For example, a Rogue can now just disarm you, follow along beside you slapping Sinister Strike, build up an ungodly number of combo points, and then face plant you in seconds. Not fun.<br />
<br />
The only counter we have at this point is to use the ability when it's safe to do so:<br />
<br />
* Only use when there's no one around that can Disarm you.<br />
<br />
* Only use AFTER the bad guy has already used Disarm.<br />
<br />
* Weapon Mastery might be something to consider for PvP, but since Bladestorm is only 6 seconds, it's unlikely to help as far as this situation goes. (An unmodified Disarm will drop to, what? Something like 5 seconds? Meh.)<br />
<br />
</div><div>* I"m completely shocked how many people don't KNOW that you can Disarm a Warrior in the midst of a Bladestorm! Shhhhh. Don't tell. ;)<br />
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That's about it.<br />
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So be smart about it.<br />
<br />
-Fri<br />
<br />
Tip: Ever get blown off a bridge or cliff by a Shammy? I hate that. As you go over, target the Shammy (or any nearby enemy) and start pounding Charge. As long as you don't go out of range, as soon as the blowback effect wears off (a couple of seconds), you'll charge right back on to solid ground AND stun the bastard at the same time! :) SPRZ!</div></div>Friday Macfayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488340330212549021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468877507401817290.post-34904750179783827412010-06-03T22:14:00.000-05:002010-06-06T12:44:43.365-05:00Cat Prep? Sounds Painful<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfxSbAFUDXcwp0qmDK2XQWdIUqO97l5DiTqdCKMOZugOG9bO6Ms2l_LYlnKUebXMCRqkkfzcMoKHuWVBa1D1N8WKd4MDtfD1cYIJs-Xm3b5pB6nB7ZPW86jXhaG4-NXbr9RfTOnCsLc0/s1600/fridayico002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfxSbAFUDXcwp0qmDK2XQWdIUqO97l5DiTqdCKMOZugOG9bO6Ms2l_LYlnKUebXMCRqkkfzcMoKHuWVBa1D1N8WKd4MDtfD1cYIJs-Xm3b5pB6nB7ZPW86jXhaG4-NXbr9RfTOnCsLc0/s200/fridayico002.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>So five months later here's another post. LOLblog! Sheesh.<br />
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Two things going on here with the lack of posties. One, of course, is the "real life." The other is a sad lack of anything inspiring to write about. I keep thinking "Yah, but there's still plenty of Arms Warrior stuff to write about!" And then realize ... not so much.<br />
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So I was poking around <a href="http://www.blogazeroth.com/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=2266">Blog Azeroth</a> and they had their Friday 5 topic as "What you're doing to prepare for Cataclysm." And I said.... hmmmm.... What are I doing?<br />
<br />
Well, first, freakin' waiting! I'm thinking not until November, though. Maybe October, but I bet November. Yeah, I hope I'm wrong and it's earlier...<br />
<br />
Other than the waiting thing, this post turned into a what I'm doing UNTIL cataclysm:<br />
<br />
1. I decided to see if I could gold cap. Something like 214,000 and change. So, Nev and Fri are churning out potions and lotions and glyphs and scrolls and such like crazy. It's a nice side project and, for the first time for me, going into an expansion with plenty of jingle will be kinda nice. (Started both of the last two completely broke!) The AH playing is kinda relaxing and beats the heck outta Farmville.<br />
<br />
2. Toon leveling. Still slowly leveling up Rowan the Rogue. Not sure what this has to do with Cat 'cept that playing a Rogue in any new battlegrounds Blizz comes up with will be wicked fun. Cause playing a Rogue in battlegrounds is the most wicked fun you can have in a battleground except for...<br />
<br />
3. Neveron hit 80, went Shadow for dungeon running and heals for battlegrounds. Healing battlegrounds is more fun than playing a Rogue. No really! Anyhoo, that was definitely a Cat prep so that we'll have a healer ready to go when the new 5-mans open up. Healing 5-mans in Wrath is like watching golf on the radio. Blah! And I'm not tanking any more. I'm done with it. Pthooey! (Right. Expect "Woe is the Tank" posts shortly after Cat hits.)<br />
<br />
4. I have two open character slots. So one will be a Human Hunter. And the other will be a Worgen. But.... what shall the Worgen be?!? So, on a few other servers I'm trying some different classes and seeing what I like best. (Okay, we know she'll probably end up a Warrior, but it doesn't hurt to shop around. Maybe a Fury Fury Warrior... hmmmm....)<br />
<br />
5. Raiding! What?!? Fri is raiding?!? Say it ain't so! Okay, not technically raiding. I do VoA once a week. Ony occasionally. The daily once in awhile. And every once in a blue moon I hitch a ride into TotC. So it's not really, really raiding. But if it gets me better shinnies to start Cat with it works for me.<br />
<br />
Prep for Cat really won't start until we know more. Like what kinds of concrete changes will be there for Arms Warriors? What are the new Alchemy stuffs? What mats will we need? And so on and so forth. Just not a lot of details, so really preparing comes down to the basics. Have plenty of stuffs for the new toons and make it as easy as possible to focus on *playing* with the old toons. <br />
<br />
Easy enough.<br />
<br />
A nice patch would be nice while we wait, though.<br />
<br />
-FriFriday Macfayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488340330212549021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468877507401817290.post-49448218240474038292010-01-23T21:46:00.001-06:002010-01-23T21:53:41.177-06:00Friday's Super Quick Guide to Arms<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvbeDm_Xz6Supfu3lJgW9R0uivVEUDoSKPLeNNbELHulSUURtewO7hzaCclbnB1SzfjIYiyBbE6FfFXFKrOxymbzAneC-0lo_ZHBrlIWZQ4aJMvo-g867CFmwqYk4xmawfoqtu594Ih8/s1600-h/friday029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvbeDm_Xz6Supfu3lJgW9R0uivVEUDoSKPLeNNbELHulSUURtewO7hzaCclbnB1SzfjIYiyBbE6FfFXFKrOxymbzAneC-0lo_ZHBrlIWZQ4aJMvo-g867CFmwqYk4xmawfoqtu594Ih8/s320/friday029.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>To get back in the spirit of things, here's a summery of what you need to Arms Warrior the easy way. This should suffice for the more casual or beginner Arms Warrior.<br />
<br />
Arms is all about using a great big sharp pointy to poke lots of bad guys really hard and all at once. Yah, it's really, really fun. For true.<br />
<br />
<b>Leveling</b><br />
<br />
<ul><li>Gear with Srength and Stamina. Hit and Crit if you should stumble across it. If you have the means, heirloom gear rocks. Get 'em.</li>
<li>Stick with the basic <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/?talent#LcbIbfIt0brRzGuioGx0s">57/14 Arms build</a> as you level.</li>
<li>You can tank as Arms below 60 without much difficulty. </li>
<li>Use Dungeon Finder and Battlegrounds as much as you can stand. Both will keep you sexy all the way to 80. </li>
<li>Rep: Sons of Hodir, Knights of the Ebon Blade and do Argent Tournament as much as you can stand.</li>
<li>Random heroics until you're blue in the face and wearing the purdy armor.</li>
</ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">The Stats</span><br />
<ul><li>Hit Rating? 264 at Level 80.</li>
<li>Strength? Your main stat after you Hit Cap. All the Crit in the world won't do any good if you hit like a wet noodle.</li>
<li>Crit? As much as possible. Poleaxe spec helps. You'll be getting this from gear.</li>
<li>Armor Penetration? Is good if you're swords, but (and this is just me), I wouldn't give up Strength, Hit, Crit or Expertise for it.</li>
<li>Expertise? I wouldn't go out of my way. Gear up using a site like <a href="http://maxdps.com/">MaxDPS</a> or <a href="http://gear-wishlist.appspot.com/">GearWishList</a> and it'll just magically be there.</li>
<li>Profession? Whatever you like. Blacksmithing, Alchemy, Engineering and Jewelcrafting are Warrior favs.</li>
</ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">What to Wear</span><br />
<ul><li>Sword or Poleaxe Specialization? Whichever you like. Use whatever is best and available. So, if that yummy sword drops and you're spec'd to Poleaxe, then roll your butt off on it and respec.</li>
<li>Gems? Hit until cap, then replace as soon as possible with Strength. If your gears Hit cap you, pretty red Strength rocks only, please. </li>
<li>Enchants? <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/?item=44492">Berserking</a> on your pokey stick. <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/?item=44149">Arcanum of Torment</a> on your noggin. <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/?item=44133">Greater Inscription of the Axe</a> on your shoulders. <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/?spell=60663">Major Agility</a> on your rug. <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/?item=44489">Powerful Stats</a> on your bewbs. Greater Assault on your <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/?item=44484">wrists</a> and <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/?item=44490">feets</a>. <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/?spell=60668">Crusher</a> on your hands. Thigh-high <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/?item=38374">Icescale Leg Armor</a> on your gams. <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/?item=41611">Eternal Belt Buckle</a> on your belt.</li>
<li>Glyphs? Majors: Mortal Strike, Execution, Rending. Minors: Battle, Bloodrage, Charge.</li>
</ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Fighting</span><br />
<ul><li>DSIS = Don't Stand In Shit. If it's on the ground and hurty, get out of it.</li>
<li>Ass first. You should only hit things from behind the mob. If you see crotch, you're doing it wrong. Stand on the pet if it helps you get oriented.</li>
<li>Beware the ass pull. If you move behind the mob, watch out for ones that are close by. Your big butt will probably pull them over.</li>
<li>Proper Rotation? There isn't one. Arms Warriors have priorities instead of a rotation. Your priorities will change slightly depending on what kind of fight it is.</li>
<li>For trash, pop Sweeping Strikes as often as possible. Bladestorm whenever it's safe to do so. Preferably both at the same time.</li>
<li>In order of priority it's: Rend, Mortal Strike, Execute, Overpower, then Slam. </li>
<li>Reapply Rend ASAP after it falls off, but not before.</li>
<li>Stance? Battle. By the time you need the other two, you'll be way beyond this guide.</li>
</ul>That's it. Fighting as an Arms Warrior takes some practice. There's lots of options. But that's kinda what makes it so fun. That and whirling around killing bunches of stuff with Bladestorm. Yah, that.<br />
<br />
Now off with you! Go forth and Bladestorm mightily!<br />
<br />
-FriFriday Macfayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488340330212549021noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468877507401817290.post-8042159480191796222010-01-23T18:37:00.000-06:002010-01-23T18:44:33.111-06:00BAK Happy Blog Day to Me!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafqvCmCnl5uxKK-c9DQEL22Ap30t93bUn41XjX57WA2WE94uuFuHUDOdH304MJ3fZR9QzAL8cWPgnN3I1tIZgEF8ffRE6jUTtFrpDs3HgDZogvdTdeQkYmaF456TnBWJ_y-bOtMi0gRc/s1600-h/fridayico006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafqvCmCnl5uxKK-c9DQEL22Ap30t93bUn41XjX57WA2WE94uuFuHUDOdH304MJ3fZR9QzAL8cWPgnN3I1tIZgEF8ffRE6jUTtFrpDs3HgDZogvdTdeQkYmaF456TnBWJ_y-bOtMi0gRc/s200/fridayico006.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
</div>Really? Since august? /epicblogfail<br />
<br />
Two years ago today Our Girl Friday started. Wow! I don't think I've ever done ANYHTING except play WoW for more than two years! Okay, it's not a consistent two years, but still...<br />
<br />
What happen to bring me back was that lately I've been playing on the rogue, Friday's sister, Rowen. Rowen has been a bank alt for a long, long time and it's her turn. Fair is fair.<br />
<br />
Oh, that and playing a combat rogue is so much fun it's freaky! Yes, playing the Shaman is so much fun it's freaky too. It's a lot of freaky fun going on here.<br />
<br />
Anyhow, we're just about officially between xpacs, and the lure of the alt starts calling again. Fri's skills are all leveled, she's got absolutely gorgeous hot armor again (finally... WotK will be forever known as the xpac of the BORING leveling armor... almost miss the clown suits of BC... not quite, but almost), she's all quested out, and if she has to PuG more than one heroic a day anymore she might puke. She's still got a few more pieces of gearisms to grab, of course, and there's a few reps to grind, but mostly (unless she starts raiding regularly) she's coasting.<br />
<br />
So Rowen's there and I start rogue'in it a bit, and turns out rogues aren't as bad as I thought. They're wicked fun in dungeons and PvP, and with the Dungeon Finder, gearing and leveling isn't the quest grind it use to be. In fact, she did ten level entirely in dungeons. Ha!<br />
<br />
While I'll probably still be mean to people who play rogues... now I won't be as mean. :P<br />
<br />
Anyhoo, we're random PuGing in SFK and someone in the group whispers "I love your blog." And I'm thinking, "Oh yah, I have a blog. Ooops." Which was kinda cool cause it's the first time in 2 years anyone's ever said anything in game about the blog. Ha!<br />
<br />
Then like, the next day, someone whispers me on Fenris (again while I was playing on Rowen) and asks for some Arms Warrior advice and mentions the blog again. Granted, I'm probably not the best person to ask, but still it's kinda cool. And there is a horrible lack of Arms Warrior stuff on the web (though, what is there is fabulous).<br />
<br />
So, it's the blog's birthday and I figured it would be a good time to start posting again. Nice to see ya and if you see a silly rogue named Rowen that needs to LTP in the lowbie randoms, give a wave. :)<br />
<br />
-FriFriday Macfayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488340330212549021noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468877507401817290.post-3298236760123195322009-08-21T21:09:00.004-05:002009-08-22T10:45:45.099-05:00Catagasm<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpAbitWarWl-63RlUzy2Ebr68C3roix6IApR7LFULMuTHmasbfizzrBfn_fp8B_gNVUhjnWkouM1mUdFYJQRCgO7ZP71xzEKQ3VUGZLyEV9E9E8J5xSEaVonI5UCrPoaUNVocQc1HwIF4/s1600-h/fridayico004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 156px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpAbitWarWl-63RlUzy2Ebr68C3roix6IApR7LFULMuTHmasbfizzrBfn_fp8B_gNVUhjnWkouM1mUdFYJQRCgO7ZP71xzEKQ3VUGZLyEV9E9E8J5xSEaVonI5UCrPoaUNVocQc1HwIF4/s200/fridayico004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372814162456177666" border="0" /></a>OMG<br /><br />Spent the entire morning pouring over Cataclysm stuffs. I don't even know what to say.<br /><br />Oh, who am I kidding.<br /><br />/GASM<br /><br />Now, c'mon. How can Blizz release this sneak peak and expect me to go back to cold, undead infested Icecrown. Sheesh!<br /><br />Dirty teases.<br /><br />Reading over it, I wouldn't even know where to start! I mean, I have enough trouble deciding what to do when I sign in right now. :D Are ya gonna roll up a goblin or a worgen and try the new starter zones? Oh, how about a new race/class combo and run the new 1-60 quests??? Wait, you've got five (rumored slower) level on your main? How long can you wait before you absolutely, positively have to jump into Grim Batol or Hyjal? Been waiting to get in there for going on five years!!!! Heroic Deadmines AND Shadowfang?!? What's first? Gah!<br /><br />Ahem<br /><br />So what's in it for Warriors?<br /><br />I was a little disappointed to hear that the human to worgen transformation will be purely cosmetic. It kinda makes sense, I suppose. They'd end up spending too much time getting people to use one or the other or designing situations where you'd want to switch. Like stances aren't bad enough. Basically, being in human form will be like wearing different cloths. All the action is done in Worgen form. That means no special bonuses for being in one form or the other.<br /><br />The thing that caught my eye, for Warriors, is the removal of AP and ArP and Defense from gears. At first glance, that sounds divine. It means more gear with base stats like Strength and Agility and Stamina. Which means Warrior gear itemized for... well, Warriors. "Of the Bear" sort of stuff. (Remember those?) The end result is that Warriors will have higher Defense or Attack Power, or what have you, through the new talent system, rather than having to hunt down gear specifically for certain specific stats.<br /><br />This one small change will solve the problem of a leveling Warrior constantly yo-yo'ing from being uber-awesome sauce to pond scum and back again every 5 levels.<br /><br />Since certain professions will be able to customize the stats on gear (called "Reforging") it'll mean you can customize the gear a bit for what role you prefer, and still have the stats to be decent at the other role. Yes, that means slapping on a shield will make you a solid Arms tank. :) It also means, instead of carrying around four (or more!) sets of Armor, you'll be more likely to just carry two. One for DPS and one for Tanking. Joy!<br /><br />As a purely hypothetical example, lets say a chest piece drops that has STR and STAM on it. K, but you're an Arms Warrior and right now you need STR and Agility to, say, increase your chance to Crit. So you reforge the piece to remove the STAM and swap it for Agility. You also pick up Dodge and Parry that will be useful for tanking. True, you're a softer tank, but you get hit less, too. And so on... (Just for illustration, not for real... and probably will work a lot differently, but ya get the idea.)<br /><br />The new talent system looks interesting as well. Toons will be able to get bonuses and talents based on what you do in the game. That means that, over time, a casual player could ramp up their base stats without having to hunt down very specific gear that would be nearly impossible for them to get. The hardcore player is still gonna have way better gear and way better stats (and rightly so), but in theory, a casual player at level cap can enjoy the sense of accomplishment of seeing their character improve without the maniacal focus on just gear. Very good move on Blizzard's part.<br /><br />Enough rambling though. Cataclysm is gonna be so much fun it'll be freaky. So far it sounds like everything a lot of other people (m'self included) have been dreaming of for a long time. Azeroth is getting a make over.<br /><br />I better go do my hair.<br /><br />-FriFriday Macfayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488340330212549021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468877507401817290.post-43721114982607030422009-08-17T20:14:00.007-05:002009-08-22T10:46:03.683-05:00Little updates for 3.2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_d08bwIfTWGZljjXD_i9dpdPSKaafdLTNsh-sdFOMwfZ0HRB6yD8hLXgoi0sVcwCslz_RW_8BrH77pARxeM212qZwAQjDGp-wcyxD8IwtEPWbRaJGoexxZvaGfgkwJDTExWuOszHU9w8/s1600-h/fridayico002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_d08bwIfTWGZljjXD_i9dpdPSKaafdLTNsh-sdFOMwfZ0HRB6yD8hLXgoi0sVcwCslz_RW_8BrH77pARxeM212qZwAQjDGp-wcyxD8IwtEPWbRaJGoexxZvaGfgkwJDTExWuOszHU9w8/s200/fridayico002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371114409538443874" border="0" /></a><br />I'm still going through stuffs from the patch. So far my verdict: Yes!<br /><br />MOAR!<br /><br />Mostly though, I've just been playing. No plan or anything like that. I find myself tanking almost all the time. I WANNA DPS! ARRRRR! And mostly old stuffs for guildies. I have posts for several things going about 3.2. Yah, most it will never see the light of a blog... but everything works its way in here eventually.<br /><br />I am getting tired of the "look" of the blog, so once again, hang on while I move the furniture around. Could get messy here for awhile.<br /><br />I'm terribly excited about some of the "leaked" information about the next expansion, but I'll wait for something more official to see what's what. I will, however, mention that if Blizzard does add some new class/race combinations AND add Worgen as a playable race, they'd better be adding some character slots.<br /><br />I just don't want to go through the pain and suffering of having to delete any of my beloved alts for my shiny new Worgen Whatever and Human Hunter. That would be most sad. Oh, geez... what class can Worgen be? You mean I have to start thinking about that as well???<br /><br />Oh, who I am kidding. Warrior. :)<br /><br />Oh, yah we're still in Northrend... Ahem...<br /><br />Alchemy is looking good but WAY over due for some "fun" stuff. Oh, don't get me wrong I like the useful stuff, and it's awesome! But fun stuff would be a Good Thing, as well.<br /><br />The new Crusader quests are quite nice. The additional quests make the Argent Tournament a little more like Qual'Danas, but with, you know, ice and krakens and dead vikings guys and stuff. Some of the quests are similar, though not nearly as challanging. Solo'ing these is cake.<br /><br />The new Dalaran Children's Week quest is cute. This is, unfortunately, a done-it before quest chain. Nothing new other than the locales to travel with and the orphan model. We'll keep our fingers crossed that Blizz updates the Children's Week quests next year.<br /><br />What can I say about the new battleground. Fun? Amazing? Wicked? Parachute into the enemy fort sometime. I don't care if it's strategy or not... just do it cause it's fun as hell! :D Don't like the changes to Wintergrasp, though. I got passed over twice now. Annoying! The other BG changes are fine. Resilience still needs work, but is a little bit better. Arms warriors are still gonna get obliterated, but just not as fast now. Instead of six seconds, you've got like, say 10 seconds. Get your shouts off and take a dive for the team. /shrug<br /><br />While I don't know, nor will likely ever know, anything about the new raid, the new Trial of the Champions dungeon is fun romp. If you like the Ring of Blood style quests (and who doesn't) you'll love this. Yes, jousting is required. So nah nah ptttttttpht to anyone who didn't spend the first two weeks of the Argent Tournament cussing at the game trying to learn to joust. :P<br /><br />Seriously, as long as ya got at least three people that can at least stay close to the bad guys, and hold them still, you'll be fine. The rest of it is fun and the loots are great.<br /><br />K, it's very obvious that Blizzard is giving everyone a leg up in an attempt to pile as many people into Icecrown as possible. I bet anyone who's run the Heroic Trial of the Champion (or at most 10-man, regular Trial of the Crusader) several times (and grabbed some emblem gear along the way) will be able to step into the beginning of the regular version of Icecrown Citadel, gear-wise.<br /><br />Yes, this still feels like a move away from the "endgame" and big raids being the culmination of an expansion. If even a smidgen of the rumors about the next expansion are true, it'll be very interesting to see how Blizzard continues down this path.<br /><br />Actually, it makes a lot of sense. But not in the way many players suspect... Hmmm... I'll follow up on those thoughts later. I gotta go play WoW.<br /><br />-FriFriday Macfayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488340330212549021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468877507401817290.post-51051475601303243922009-08-16T13:30:00.010-05:002009-08-22T10:46:15.183-05:00How I Missed the Patch, or Big Giant @#$! Kittens<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuRxcgJ1kLzJFTSs2ZZjsbmrgV3oXC3-64_cv3k4p2-vlHl_iMDoEL7Y7aIUphVw5qpYfh8lCeHp_y3HkDzqm2MswodKXfh15BSzi0wmfRbgQ1kBf22qKCuth3Os4Qo0e9DPnIm0pExe8/s1600-h/fridayico005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 125px; height: 164px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuRxcgJ1kLzJFTSs2ZZjsbmrgV3oXC3-64_cv3k4p2-vlHl_iMDoEL7Y7aIUphVw5qpYfh8lCeHp_y3HkDzqm2MswodKXfh15BSzi0wmfRbgQ1kBf22qKCuth3Os4Qo0e9DPnIm0pExe8/s200/fridayico005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370653135892628866" border="0" /></a>So, I get sick, get a promotion at work, work many many overtimes, stay sick, can't write in blog... don't even have the energy to play WoW. I mean really? <a href="http://scout-report.net/archive/067.html"> F!@k kittens</a> (NSFW).* Naturally, Blizz waits until then to release the patch. So, instead of writing something worthwhile about the patch and all, it's time for yet more random screen shots. Hooray! :D<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3NolsgWgl0QSEb7LGWA7cHQ9fCUSg9AvnBHbto3VWhHDphPUKvXF_GPIQ3G7cfntw4YuszU_H07h2_vdI_DSSAwupCvq0NZ1_wYmS46GPAI5WjQ8Xdr6ab8hbOUgxf3Vuo7ZBUkxvF8g/s1600-h/neveron002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3NolsgWgl0QSEb7LGWA7cHQ9fCUSg9AvnBHbto3VWhHDphPUKvXF_GPIQ3G7cfntw4YuszU_H07h2_vdI_DSSAwupCvq0NZ1_wYmS46GPAI5WjQ8Xdr6ab8hbOUgxf3Vuo7ZBUkxvF8g/s400/neveron002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370649265716329794" border="0" /></a><br />Leveling a Holy Priest is easysauce! Just getcha one of these.<br />They work for random food drops and you just stand back<br />and soak up the XP. Win! :D<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjTsIBmUufnAsiluHxqb_qE1srEK_wcWlgrvyHoVXBXMykDeuOl0zQNgjagFS-Do4bIHqDrX25VtClBXQxl8BA1t2fkZOp6chVq2SxXSeX5Q5-HlYR-nHIpe2W4sR0jO1DRgENdlGGpM/s1600-h/sunaris002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjTsIBmUufnAsiluHxqb_qE1srEK_wcWlgrvyHoVXBXMykDeuOl0zQNgjagFS-Do4bIHqDrX25VtClBXQxl8BA1t2fkZOp6chVq2SxXSeX5Q5-HlYR-nHIpe2W4sR0jO1DRgENdlGGpM/s400/sunaris002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370649271846905986" border="0" /></a><br />New cute hair! :D Ugly VC drops. :/<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd-7yl0J95lerHr2ks_7aBqvesSrlHRq6hsUci5dLLVxWmgsj3kWbZx3jMX8-CIH0BGj-eF5vD0PBR5maa_7h2L33Ru_89uQDE9vmqujZzi0HybyJ1dzv4xir786i0LVcqHVqSVdGWOO8/s1600-h/sunaris003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd-7yl0J95lerHr2ks_7aBqvesSrlHRq6hsUci5dLLVxWmgsj3kWbZx3jMX8-CIH0BGj-eF5vD0PBR5maa_7h2L33Ru_89uQDE9vmqujZzi0HybyJ1dzv4xir786i0LVcqHVqSVdGWOO8/s400/sunaris003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370649278374548978" border="0" /></a>Level 20 mounts are genius! Now why do I suddenly have an<br />urge to park on a mailbox?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtm7jtHSrydcRlQS4_MO1UILJ18reD3QUcN3XwtjwsSUvYUP6AuFbSAKMrE8pDbWt4E8hrOVNUlhpo16k-BCzsYN0YF2yxGKuNFk6qxTd4ovpu5iZob_IiNhIL5sMycaQMdcGOVQGyvB4/s1600-h/sunaris004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtm7jtHSrydcRlQS4_MO1UILJ18reD3QUcN3XwtjwsSUvYUP6AuFbSAKMrE8pDbWt4E8hrOVNUlhpo16k-BCzsYN0YF2yxGKuNFk6qxTd4ovpu5iZob_IiNhIL5sMycaQMdcGOVQGyvB4/s400/sunaris004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370649289518468130" border="0" /></a>This boat has some of the prettiest views. Odd but true.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCI_-_kkcW98buxEVRhPkf5GTkX10gUKbaSPoSGyo5x1QFpHZyQ4OqA6jhMXzpKE9AbBtkvLsaXwh14AayirgYTFi7_ZjKeKKWFtKYHZZv46YqAUijV9ZvCl3-pjLCS11b8xoBad5ZuQ/s1600-h/friday010.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCI_-_kkcW98buxEVRhPkf5GTkX10gUKbaSPoSGyo5x1QFpHZyQ4OqA6jhMXzpKE9AbBtkvLsaXwh14AayirgYTFi7_ZjKeKKWFtKYHZZv46YqAUijV9ZvCl3-pjLCS11b8xoBad5ZuQ/s400/friday010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370649290684087922" border="0" /></a>o/` She's just the girl, she's just the girl... The girl you want. o/`<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRn2YQ5sMIYftZKrVJCSwQHhU1T4Ex0XMbjYqhJskUvtXWTUcf96fyEVO8HpwBpWN_iHONSqGJ772QTWe1RNVfx2knTM9eCQeA9WLbsVoSA-jtLxmGslZYiv0HfNrlFh5HIOtCHGACS9g/s1600-h/friday011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRn2YQ5sMIYftZKrVJCSwQHhU1T4Ex0XMbjYqhJskUvtXWTUcf96fyEVO8HpwBpWN_iHONSqGJ772QTWe1RNVfx2knTM9eCQeA9WLbsVoSA-jtLxmGslZYiv0HfNrlFh5HIOtCHGACS9g/s400/friday011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370650961814767714" border="0" /></a>Werk werk werk.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDasxF_4jJGPOU2OH7wzoXgm25Ml_ZsjoRbjBDrN7rZ_0kFIWjqawcPUyuGm7MeZlqcTz7GJPOxRrGK09ouoVdc4MM0b2XuycfVqZp6d73eWhTtaCtzh4YevJY4dNWGkaZ9SjQ3kukXk/s1600-h/friday012.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDasxF_4jJGPOU2OH7wzoXgm25Ml_ZsjoRbjBDrN7rZ_0kFIWjqawcPUyuGm7MeZlqcTz7GJPOxRrGK09ouoVdc4MM0b2XuycfVqZp6d73eWhTtaCtzh4YevJY4dNWGkaZ9SjQ3kukXk/s400/friday012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370650972925836402" border="0" /></a>Payday in Stormwind. /sigh<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtyQBaimDkn_bnMwhbt3yYgZjWDEt1GgZ5tXqx8e_58LCE95OjweGLs52BRjSxNS9Lk366sFW5unYEnVR-gprWmtkAb8Sv6UefY-urCJDF0GS7aHivrMkZVBNvZfH7UCYgHEfwpQFIVA/s1600-h/friday013.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtyQBaimDkn_bnMwhbt3yYgZjWDEt1GgZ5tXqx8e_58LCE95OjweGLs52BRjSxNS9Lk366sFW5unYEnVR-gprWmtkAb8Sv6UefY-urCJDF0GS7aHivrMkZVBNvZfH7UCYgHEfwpQFIVA/s400/friday013.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370650980903777794" border="0" /></a>AWWW! Baby murlock. Want!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Mhvjq857hmpv6XBkRzctUCpKwvpuUWKlg6nxlMRqAeeiGMNPtHXK3Qzes2TL2m5Sw8VbcSbOsy6vRXuXa1x5Jl4RNpyDGsOgVKZy2tDhyphenhyphenMRtixcWSIcYNNEKNLXJPcrPpWE7COK8x7k/s1600-h/friday014.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Mhvjq857hmpv6XBkRzctUCpKwvpuUWKlg6nxlMRqAeeiGMNPtHXK3Qzes2TL2m5Sw8VbcSbOsy6vRXuXa1x5Jl4RNpyDGsOgVKZy2tDhyphenhyphenMRtixcWSIcYNNEKNLXJPcrPpWE7COK8x7k/s400/friday014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370650985566450466" border="0" /></a>Vi got her Black Warbear. FOR THE ALLIANCE!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywEwv3dKwWBw6vVKvVGwzxufDqAArFbe87b6gokMNw6iAHTDf1e5rvkmHJXYw8DEm6NtJsIdoI9waTh9VjRpcGvzc_zv0xLqKQfkphR5HrTuOkTKPExaw3cxVfztf_3oZmluTCjHutzQ/s1600-h/friday015.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywEwv3dKwWBw6vVKvVGwzxufDqAArFbe87b6gokMNw6iAHTDf1e5rvkmHJXYw8DEm6NtJsIdoI9waTh9VjRpcGvzc_zv0xLqKQfkphR5HrTuOkTKPExaw3cxVfztf_3oZmluTCjHutzQ/s400/friday015.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370650989400007618" border="0" /></a>Yes! I actually LIKE jousting. I may suck at dps, I can't tell the bad guy's<br />crap on the floor from the DK's crap on the floor, and I may spend most<br />of the rest of the dungeon face down on the floor... but that Crusader<br />title gets me into plenty of ToCs. :P<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYvG34LgLs3gbvKNDanP9q0qB0F11wf03oc54q6CJX9dsYiEWCUjd1oW5A-osB2pzbmWuWn84BBT0-QOj7NzJCSEbigXCJu7W9_8rPRkwhFw9DUFqPSHni72Lt1pGewD3Qz9BR8q6jb2M/s1600-h/friday016.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYvG34LgLs3gbvKNDanP9q0qB0F11wf03oc54q6CJX9dsYiEWCUjd1oW5A-osB2pzbmWuWn84BBT0-QOj7NzJCSEbigXCJu7W9_8rPRkwhFw9DUFqPSHni72Lt1pGewD3Qz9BR8q6jb2M/s400/friday016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370651324244356290" border="0" /></a>Who left the gate open?!? Damn kids.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">-Fri<br /></div></div><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">* I have no idea why that phrase makes me laugh so hard. Scout is bad! Bad bad bad! And I still laugh so hard I /cry and/or /spew. NSFW!</span>Friday Macfayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488340330212549021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468877507401817290.post-43364344859555307412009-08-01T19:11:00.004-05:002009-08-22T10:46:33.336-05:00Fun with Google<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsxhgjI-DjOlKJFSEow-_aYYr_A4t3ghiI-KQjnnZJPtHZxcOlFtZHlQMpxL6YPSzNzFW9gqS2ImP9JUx4ori0QZI_wC5XNfPzhX7Ek-51eMqmoQ2FRSRV7OdrxJlexa2l8d6-AJg2Wy8/s1600-h/fridayico004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 156px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsxhgjI-DjOlKJFSEow-_aYYr_A4t3ghiI-KQjnnZJPtHZxcOlFtZHlQMpxL6YPSzNzFW9gqS2ImP9JUx4ori0QZI_wC5XNfPzhX7Ek-51eMqmoQ2FRSRV7OdrxJlexa2l8d6-AJg2Wy8/s200/fridayico004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365175570405134578" border="0" /></a><br />I have lots of draft stuff in progress, as usual, mostly commentary and whining and other stuff. So instead of working any of those to finish, I'm gonna do something completely different and SWIPE! again.<br /><br /><a href="http://pixelatedexecutioner.blogspot.com/">Pixelated Executioner</a> has used his site traffic thing to find how people are finding his site. So last month I signed up for google Analytics, cause I thought that was a very neato idea. :D<br /><br />This is stuff I find interesting. You? Maybe not so much. :P So, what we got?<br /><br />The average time on site was 1 minute 4 seconds. Ouch. Course, a Ret Pally could kill a couple dozen other players in that time, so I guess it's not that bad. When you break it out and look at time spent when someone actually searches for a relevant page, though, it jumps up to over nine minutes. Which is enough time for a Warlock to solo Naxx with a VW, I believe. Much better.<br /><br />Top ten pages in July were:<br /><br />Main Page (Our Girl Friday)<br /><a href="http://fridaymacfay.blogspot.com/2008/09/journey-to-grim-guzzler.html">Journy to the Grim Guzzler</a><br /><a href="http://fridaymacfay.blogspot.com/2008/11/lazy-days-in-dalaran.html">Lazy Days in Dalaran</a><br /><a href="http://fridaymacfay.blogspot.com/2009/07/casual-friday-new-alt-and-some-stuff.html">New Alt and Some Stuff</a><br /><a href="http://fridaymacfay.blogspot.com/2009/01/bladestorm-for-dum-dums.html">Bladestorm for Dum Dums</a><br /><a href="http://fridaymacfay.blogspot.com/2009/07/flower-picking-plate-wearers-in-32-so.html">Flower Picking Plate Wearers in 3.2</a><br /><a href="http://fridaymacfay.blogspot.com/2008/09/building-better-arms-warrior-part-2.html">Building a Better Arms Warrior, Part 2</a><br /><a href="http://fridaymacfay.blogspot.com/2009/04/fun-with-warriors-heroic-strike.html">Fun With Warriors: Heroic Strike</a><br /><a href="http://fridaymacfay.blogspot.com/2009/03/large-burly-men-picking-flowers.html">Large Burly Men Picking Flowers</a><br /><br />I know that's only nine. Google lists two entries, one is "My Girl Friday" and the other as "Main Page." /shrug<br /><br />After that the remainder (and several of the top ten) are all looking for Arms Warrior stuff. So I ran a search on google m'self and sure enough, there's really not a lot out there that's current. Pix's site comes up a lot. A few older guides that aren't quite up to date. That's about it!<br /><br />Basically, most of mah blog's traffic comes from people looking for information about Arms Warriors and Alchemy/Herbalism. And directions to the Grim Guzzler. That's a kinda good thing to know.<br /><br />Most links come from blogger or google. The blogs that sent traffic here, according to Analytics, were <a href="http://awakeninginprogress.wordpress.com/">Awakening in Progress</a>, <a href="http://casualhardcore.wordpress.com/">Casual Hardcore</a>, <a href="http://www.warcraftbloggers.com/">Warcraft Bloggers</a>, <a href="http://www.bananashoulders.com/">Banana Shoulders</a>, <a href="http://onewowwarrior.blogspot.com/">One WoW Warrior</a>, and <a href="http://www.tanklikeagirl.com/">Tank Like a Girl</a>. TYTYTYTYTYTYTYTY! :D<br /><br />Quicky Q&A from the referral searches:<br /><br />Q: How to get to the Grim Guzzler?<br />A: <a href="http://fridaymacfay.blogspot.com/2008/09/journey-to-grim-guzzler.html">Here</a><br /><br />Q: Linzy Blackbolt?<br />A: She teaches you Alchemy in Dalaran. <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/?npc=28703">Here go.</a><br /><br />Q: Warriors like me?<br />A: Hope you found something... um... something...<br /><br />Q: Warrior heroic dungeon ready?<br />A: I'm so sorry you got referred here, cause you definitely ended up in the wrong place! But... If you complete the quests in Zul'Drak, Storm Peaks, and Icecrown and run the regular 80 dungeons a few times each on the way, you can do heroics. Will you get to? Check with your guildies. Failing that, you'll have to PuG and that's difficult for a gearing Warrior. Most PuGs want thier warrior rough, buff, and WAY over geared. Good luck, though!<br /><br />Q: Aesir's Edge for an Arms Warrior?<br />A: Oh hell yah! Again, sorry you ended up here, though. That's a weapon I'll never even come close to seeing. Go getcha some if ya can, though! Drops of the XT-002 thingie in Ulduar. Good luck and send pix when you get it!<br /><br />Q: Andrea Kadomi?<br />A: She's right <a href="http://www.tanklikeagirl.com/">here</a>. Go on. I'll wait.<br /><br />Q: Are PuGs good or bad?<br />A: Evil incarnate. As my dear Sargent Major father always says, it's the biggest clusterf&ck you'll ever see. Which, of course, is what makes them so fun. Sometimes. When you're in the mood to put up with it. Warned.<br /><br />Q: These search words: arms flowers hippy.<br />A: This brings up shopping and pictures of hippy chicks frolicking in flowers. I'm guessin' ya didn't get what you were looking for here, but try WoW anyway. It's good for the inner pacifist to let go and chop monsters into little bits every once and awhile. And there is flower picking, too!<br /><br />Q: Arms Warriors resilience or dps?<br />A: DPS. For PvE and PvP, as it is right now. Even with piles of resilience, you're gonna die in about 8 seconds (literally, not being silly) in a fight with other players. You won't have time to be skilled, since you'll be dead before you get two or three swings off. Maybe with the changes in 3.2 coming up, resilience will be a better stat. I hope so! But as it is right now: DPS for both.<br /><br />Q: Bladestorm? And Bladestorm threat?<br />A: <a href="http://fridaymacfay.blogspot.com/2009/01/bladestorm-for-dum-dums.html">Here</a>. And no idea. Threat from Bladestorm will depend on damage modified by any threat reducing talents. Generally, though, give your tank a 6-9 seconds because you shouldn't Bladestorm at the beginning of a fight. Very bad things can happen. Like, ya know, /faceplant. You'll be putting up Rend, Battle Shout and Mortal Strike first anyhow, so don't worry too much about it. In PvP, you need to 1) have a full health bar cause when you start spinning like a top everyone on the other side with focus you instantly, 2) pop Recklessness first if you can, and 3) hamstring your target(s) BEFORE you pop Bladestorm otherwise they'll just run away. That's the short version.<br /><br />Q: Elixir of Armor Piercing?<br />A: Crap. Taste like ass, too. Use <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/?item=44327">this</a>.<br /><br />Q: Arms Warrior axe, mace, or sword?<br />Axe. If you're serious about DPS you need Poleaxe spec to get the crit rating you need. I use a sword cause I likes them, the one I have is really purdy, and I don't care what anyone thinks about it. But get an 2H axe if you're serious. Maybe, hopefully someday Blizz will come to its senses and combine the weapon specs into one called "Weapons Master" or something like that. It would be a Crit boost only talent on account many of our abilities rely on procs from Critical hits. Kinda makes way more sense. Oh, and Arms Warriors are the only Class/Spec that are punished for picking up a different weapon. Not only can you not use your shiny new toy to its full potential, but you have to pay 50g to respec at a trainer. Suckage.<br /><br />Q: Friday Hardcore?<br />A: Has something to do with the bar scene. Sorry. Um, need directions to the Grim Guzzler?<br /><br />Q: Is there a macro for Arms Warrior Revenge?<br />A: Cracksmoker.<br /><br />Q: Learn to shake booty classes?<br />A: Um, <a href="http://www.zumba.com/us/">here ya go</a>. :)<br /><br />People are funny.<br /><br />-FriFriday Macfayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488340330212549021noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468877507401817290.post-55536577302847554382009-07-26T11:58:00.003-05:002009-07-26T17:11:03.543-05:00A Quicky Guide to Casual PvP<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqj4cDRDnpf-v6tTH75YXE117Q05aq1KFzaoj2bMUlcyJOs12yrv3gMNp5EBbJBuM8sZ4rlG_tFEWQ9SFTP-y11-t9YpMw7vcIoG8C14DaCRKBqxMlndNXZVquvstGqhtV7IVj_RxuiHg/s1600-h/fri_icon_10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 113px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqj4cDRDnpf-v6tTH75YXE117Q05aq1KFzaoj2bMUlcyJOs12yrv3gMNp5EBbJBuM8sZ4rlG_tFEWQ9SFTP-y11-t9YpMw7vcIoG8C14DaCRKBqxMlndNXZVquvstGqhtV7IVj_RxuiHg/s200/fri_icon_10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362837487530378850" border="0" /></a><br />The last week I've spent playing more PvP, of all things. Seriously, I was quit. I wasn't gonna do it anymore. I swear. After BC I was tired of it, and sick of the way it worked. It just wasn't fun anymore.<br /><br />Well, okay, I got too serious and stopped having fun. Hard as I tried, I couldn't lighten up about it.<br /><br />Then Wrath hit and I had things to do.<br /><br />So now, with the last patch being largely about raiding, again, and the bit of stuff they threw to the rest of us is done, I started up playing Battlegrounds again. I've been able to keep a pretty casual attitude about it so far.<br /><br /><a href="http://birdfall.blogspot.com/">Birdfall</a> posted a couple of interesting pieces that got me thinking. The first is about <a href="http://birdfall.blogspot.com/2009/07/scaling-back-or-advantages-of-casual.html">Scaling Back</a> and taking a more "casual" mind set to the game. I can relate to that. I think this happened to me back just before Wrath launched, but it took me awhile to get it. The second post was about a <a href="http://birdfall.blogspot.com/2009/07/ember-wars-or-how-to-win-over-jerkfaces.html">little PvP encounter</a> that made me smile.<br /><br />Thinking of those two things got me thinking about how to do casual PvP, specially battlegrounds, my preferred PvP method. Sounds like a guide to me!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Casual PvP: My Definition</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Casual PvP Does Mean</span>: Serious play. A casual PvPer isn't interested in being "pro." You just want to have fun by enjoying the various forms of PvP. There's a visceral component to PvP that you just can't get in PvE. You like that. However, you are there to enjoy it, not stress about it.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Casual PvP Does Not Mean</span>: Scrub. Casual players aren't there just to soak up honor. You DO take your roll in a battle seriously enough to want to do a good job. You do like the strategy aspects of a fight. You know, or are willing to learn, the ins and outs of PvP. You aren't going to quit and you absolutely make every effort to complete the objectives of the battle.<br /><br />Some people are casual because the don't have a lot of time, some are casual because PvP is a mood thing for them, some are causal because they'd like to have fun rather than pump up their epeens (or QQ about having it deflated).<br /><br />Like all so-called "casuals" they are here to PLAY, not work.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">PvP Basics</span><br /><br />* You're gonna die.<br /><br />A lot. Unless you get really serious about it. Which defeats the whole point of Casual PvP. So you die a lot. Don't worry. There's no penalty for dying at the hands of another player except hanging out it a graveyard until you rez, or running back to your body. Try not to die, of course! The trick is not to get frustrated when you do die. A lot.<br /><br />* Get Better<br /><br />Just because you're casual it doesn't mean you're clueless. You need to know how to use your abilities in situational mode. In PvE you often have a set of priorities or even a rotation you follow. In PvP you can throw that all out the window. There's a lot of countering other player's moves involved and it takes place unpredictably and at lightning speed. So it takes practice.<br /><br />* Have a point.<br /><br />When you play, there should be a general direction for it. Learn, know and understand the objectives of a PvP encounter, where applicable. If you go into a battle and just flail around, you're not going to enjoy PvP much. There's a lot of teamwork involved in PvP, but there's a big personal component to it as well. Go in with the mindset that you're gonna play hard. The outcome may not matter... for casual PvPers it's getting there that's the fun part. But winning is the goal, so do that as much as possible. :)<br /><br />* Loot is a bonus.<br /><br />PvP loots that you can get from just honor are pretty good. But it's nothing like what you'll get from hardcore PvE or some of the hardcore PvP options. The PvP gear you get through casual play takes a long time to get and is pretty much good for PvP. Consider it a bonus, not a goal. The goal is a good time.<br /><br />* Ignore<br /><br />Use your ignore feature a lot. There's gonna be a lot of socially deficient, rude, obnoxious, epeen swearing morons, particularly in battlegrounds. Yes, on both Horde and Alliance sides. Set these people to ignore at the first signs of QQ. It makes PvP way more fun when you don't have that shit scrolling in your chat.<br /><br />Dueling<br /><br />Not my favorite PvP activity, mainly because it's largely the domain of the epeener. However, there is a marginal value in the activity if you're learning to PvP with your class. You can test out various things against different classes and see how they work. What works against a Druid isn't necessarily going to work against a Warlock. Dueling is practice. Assuming you can find a good practice partner.<br /><br />It's 1-on-1, though. So the value is limited. In most real PvP the situations are very different and involved multiple payers. If you end up in a 1-on-1 slugfest with someone in a battleground, for example, you've probably done something wrong.<br /><br /> You'll be better served, and most likely have more fun, jumping into other forms of PvP.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Arena</span><br /><br />I'm not a big fan, so I'm gonna kinda gloss over this. There are plenty of casual Arena players, and they do well and enjoy themselves. Mostly, though, you're gonna be doing it to spend some time with a small group of friends in PvP play.<br /><br />Arena tends to be very focused. Because you're on a team, there also more expectations. That's not a bad thing, but be aware of the time commitment. It's not 25-man raids, but you still have to show up on time.<br /><br />Arena is primarily the domain of hardcore players. Casual isn't going to get you up the ladder very far. However, you can get up far enough to get some nice loot! Everyone loves loot!<br /><br />If you like the idea of small teams working together to defeat another small team in an enclosed environment, then Arena might be for you. Give a try at least. If you're having a good time, the loot and the ladder won't matter much to ya. They'll be nice bonuses.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">World PvP</span><br /><br />World PvP takes place out in the middle of a zone. No instancing, you just ride in and start fighting. Many of them have quirks or timers, but when you enter the zone it'll show the objectives at the top of your screen.<br /><br />Wintergrasp is the de facto world PvP spot now-a-days. Even when the battle isn't going on, you might stop in there to finish up a daily quest, or to grind on the numerous Elementals out there. Regardless of why, there's always someone from the other faction present, and that often leads to a fight.<br /><br />If you play on a PvE server, this can be quite exciting. Or annoying depending on how you look at it. It's better to look at it as exciting.<br /><br />The battle itself is an awesome experience, particularly for those that prefer to play from a casual mindset. Tip: Get in a tank. Fun! :D<br /><br />Most other world PvP is now focused in the Grizzly Hills. There's Outland and Old World spots, as well, but they are fairly empty now. Try them all, though, for a taste. I particularly like The Eastern Plaguelands in the Old World, and Naagrand and the Bone Wastes in Outland.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Battlegrounds</span><br /><br />These are instanced, like a dungeon, and you have to get into a queue. Unlike World PvP, you're going in with people from your Battlegroup, not just your Realm. A Battlegroup is a collection of Realms that all fight together.<br /><br />As far as casual friendly, the bigger the battleground the better when you're just starting out. Running with the group, helping other more experienced players, and getting a feel for the objectives is important, even for casual players. The smaller battlegrounds, however, offer a lot of fun, so don't hesitate to try them out when you're a little more familiar with the format.<br /><br />Casual players in battlegrounds (or any PvP) are huge asset to more experienced players, but only if those casuals do what they're suppose to do. Most times, you'll have someone that will step up and issue orders. Follow these orders if you can. The plan may not work. But it'll work better if everyone plays along.<br /><br />The most important thing to remember about battlegrounds is that you must be tuned into the objective. You need to be aware of what the group is doing and how your class fits into the big picture. That's what more experienced players will mean when they say you need to know your job (or less kindly "L2P!!! NOOB!").<br /><br />Mostly this just takes some exposure to the battleground. Maybe a little reading on how it works. After you know this, though, you can get to the really fun part, which is doing what you can to win. Or at least lose without getting completely smashed. :)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Casual is PvP</span><br /><br />Simply put, most PvP players are going to be causal. Some are just new and will learn. Some are pure experts, as good as the hardcore players. Some are really bad at it. The latter make great cannon fodder. :) Really, it's just about having fun. Like anything in the "casual mindset" it's not about pwn'ing some noob for epeen, or grabbing the latest and greatest gears. (Well, sometimes.) It's about playing. It is "just a game." But it's a game where you can have some serious fun, if you're inclined to think that way.<br /><br />Go into PvP casually. Learn to casual well. Do it for fun. But mostly, go into it to PLAY.<br /><br />-FriFriday Macfayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488340330212549021noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468877507401817290.post-768464081075247872009-07-24T21:27:00.006-05:002009-07-26T17:11:03.544-05:00Casual Friday: Why PvP Still Sucks<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9N-ZwKch2tZZSEBI7IR4Misclr5s2kubzIcRaoJFb3w-972twcan1GKiSaj_iczp8_OsJ8TxvxCmn2_lD5UOg9ghhLwheV8ghRhNBokeDQhXgVDf3NTTO49MsQi94vQWCbwWrrDtt8m8/s1600-h/fri_icon_42.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 166px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9N-ZwKch2tZZSEBI7IR4Misclr5s2kubzIcRaoJFb3w-972twcan1GKiSaj_iczp8_OsJ8TxvxCmn2_lD5UOg9ghhLwheV8ghRhNBokeDQhXgVDf3NTTO49MsQi94vQWCbwWrrDtt8m8/s200/fri_icon_42.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362223225644981826" border="0" /></a>Because it's so freakin' fun, that's why! There's nothing more fun than being completely undergeared, getting completely pwn'd constantly, and running around not having any clue what going on... and having a blast doing it.<br /><br />Attempt #2 to make a Casual Friday post on Friday. 15 Minutes or less... ready, set, go...<br /><br />K, I haven't done any battlegrounds or anything PvPish since just before Wrath launched. It's been awhile. So, my guildmaster gets me going in Wintergrasp and it's meh. And then I turn down the graphics so it's not like fighting in soup (a really heavy bean and stuff filled soup, not that wimpy stuff). And I kinda take a few minutes to look at the map and figure out where things are . . .<br /><br />Now I don't miss it if I can help it and I'm installing an add-on tonight to keep a timer up so I don't forget! It's total chaos!<br /><br />As far as I can tell there's no way to actually win or loose. I mean, someone does win and someone does loose, but mostly it's people running around smacking each other... with BIG FREAKIN TANKS. Most battles boil down to who can build thier BIG FREAKIN TANKS up fast enough, and have enough players clever enough to actually go get one, and then pile everybody into one spot and run over the enemy players. It's wild and choatic and loads of fun.<br /><br />Just turn down your graphics.<br /><br />Best of all, if you're just a casual player looking for some grins, this is a great place to get lost in the crowd. Just stick with the crowd and do your thing... you'll be having fun in no time. And you can gets some nice gears to hand down to your alts in the form of heirloom items. Bonus!<br /><br />I know there's a lot of people who are going to really, really dislike me saying that... :) But I don't care. If you're not having fun in a battle... g'away! Shoo! Scram!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8f5LKsm9BbU7gVYMqxpf0e0MoTBpOsMvYu654-MFnSsMH2Xh2QPbb1nWrFT5kuyA3bCHLfxQA79DYO0fKeWRpHlR7q_CVNs45ddZdTtmUammGkdPamv2OIREnMzJ80hgyTZlUAfwhgQM/s1600-h/orly.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 303px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8f5LKsm9BbU7gVYMqxpf0e0MoTBpOsMvYu654-MFnSsMH2Xh2QPbb1nWrFT5kuyA3bCHLfxQA79DYO0fKeWRpHlR7q_CVNs45ddZdTtmUammGkdPamv2OIREnMzJ80hgyTZlUAfwhgQM/s400/orly.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362228092536715010" border="0" /></a><br />The other one I'm enjoying most right now is Strand of the Ancients. It's fast, furious and focused. Yah there's some strategy here, but it's no Arathi Basin. It's more like the Alterac Valley zerg but both sides get a chance to try it... oh, with gates you have to knock down with, you guessed it, BIG FREAKIN TANKS.<br /><br />This is an amzingly casual friendly BG. Just go where the big letters on the screen say to go and where all the dots are at. Can you find the Yellow Gate on the Map? Goooood! Go there when it says the Yellow Gate is Going Poof. Guess where you go if the Purple Gate is getting smashed? It's like battlegrounds for Dora the Explorer fans. Where do you go? Purple Gate! Where do you go? Purple Gate! Purple Gate! PUUUUUUUUUUUURPLE GATE! You'll never go the wrong way again! Yah, if you're playing against an assload of Pally's and DKs who pile up in front of the gates you're gonna get creamed. But you'll be having so much, you won't care.<br /><br />Oh, and by all means, in either of these battles jump in a BIG FREAKIN TANK! It's only fun a few times every now and then. But it is fun and well worth the ride. Some of them even let you jump on them and shoot stuff without having to drive. Casual friendly? Oh I think so.<br /><br />As always, a word of caution: Make liberal use of the ignore feature. There are some major buttholes in battlegrounds and they're horribly whiney and annoying. Ignore them and, if you can, run them over with a BIG FREAKIN TANK!<br /><br />-FriFriday Macfayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488340330212549021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468877507401817290.post-59483023716511579302009-07-17T23:40:00.006-05:002009-07-19T13:43:58.466-05:00Casual Friday: New Alt and some stuffI thought I try Casual Fridays again on, you know, Fridays. So now it's Sunday and I'm finally getting it published. HA! Best laid plans and all that. Maybe I should start writing this on Monday. Hmmmm....<br /><br />Since I don't have anything important to say that wouldn't take more than two hours to finish writing (and then still not be important, of course) I thought I'd take up the Twitter habit, and some other bloggers habits (SWIPE!), of posting links to stuff I like. So just click and have fun dammit.<br /><br />At the end, I wanna take a moment to introduce everyone to my new main alt, enhancement shammy Sunaris!<br /><br />First, the blog posts I liked this week. Yah, the is very random and I'm probably missing a few. My apologies to the bloggers I skipped. Remember: my attention span is less than zero, so this'll be all the posts I liked until I get tired of copying and pasting links.<br /><br /><a href="http://forthebubbles.wordpress.com/2009/07/17/flowchart-friday-warrior-tanking/">Flowchart Friday</a> and <a href="http://forthebubbles.wordpress.com/2009/07/16/in-which-i-rant-about-belts/">In Which I Rant About Belts </a>from I Like Bubbles. Warrior tanking AND fashion rant in the same week?!? Genius. As for the deh bewbs... to borrow a quote from Teri Hatcher when she was on Sienfeld: "Yes, they are real. And they're *magnificent!*"<br /><br /><a href="http://www.tankingtips.com/2009/07/17/7-things-ive-learned-about-specing/">7 Things I have learned about Specing</a> from TankingTips. Great advice and he made up a word: "Specing." Make up words are the best!<br /><br /><a href="http://stupidtank.wordpress.com/2009/07/17/translating-blue/">Translating Blue</a> from Tanking for Dummies. One of the best tank sites takes a pessimistic view of the Warrior Q&A posted by Blizz this week. Loved it! It's funny AND accurate. I'll be taking a more optimistic (sorta) look at it here in a bit, but Tarsus pretty much nails what a lot of other Warriors (inc m'self) were thinking when we read the Q&A.<br /><br /><a href="http://pixelatedexecutioner.blogspot.com/2009/07/arms-warrior-elementary-school-grades_16.html">Arms Elementary School</a> from Pixelated Executioner continues the series looking at Level 30-39. If you're thinking of <a href="http://fridaymacfay.blogspot.com/2009/04/arms-lords-and-ladies-of-battlefield_19.html">trying Arms warrior</a>, READ PIX'S POST FIRST! This is the readme.txt for aspriing Arms Warriors. :)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/Want%20to%20Buy%20a%20Tanking%20Dummy">Want to Buy a Tanking Dummy</a> by Pretty in Plate. This is such a great idea I'm surprised it's not in the game. As it is, the only way to figure out how you're doing as a tank is to go out and do it. And get beat up a lot. Tanking dummies would be a nice addition.<br /><br /><a href="http://wishfullthought.blogspot.com/2009/07/im-not-that-kind-of-hunter.html">I'm not the Kind of Hunter...</a> from Escapist Scrawl. :D People are strange... Oh, and... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!<br /><br /><a href="http://holydiscipline.wordpress.com/2009/07/14/smelling-the-roses/">Smelling the Roses</a> from Holy Discipline. Good advice, as well. Play as you wish. :)<br /><br />This week's top pick: <a href="http://awakeninginprogress.wordpress.com/2009/07/14/i-found-a-newbie/">I Found a Newbie</a> from Awakening in Progress. I still love newbies. :D<br /><br />Now on to the Shammy Power!<br /><br />Here she is.<br /><br />I'm not quite into her hair yet, but I'll play with that at the Barber Shop. Apparently the Exodor doesn't have one?!? K.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL8dROojimnsrdT6xZRNnGduFh_xxPfatRBtiauiTuV54NT77HVkzObZ12ozWFuu-ZyJl7mvLfHmDSyPTFvl9PAo8UqzPWghmqtNClCGseAWaIw1T1nsa8Yx2k2SoZVnxptoPSg0s7sLQ/s1600-h/sunaris001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL8dROojimnsrdT6xZRNnGduFh_xxPfatRBtiauiTuV54NT77HVkzObZ12ozWFuu-ZyJl7mvLfHmDSyPTFvl9PAo8UqzPWghmqtNClCGseAWaIw1T1nsa8Yx2k2SoZVnxptoPSg0s7sLQ/s400/sunaris001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360241339434423122" border="0" /></a>I like moon shots. Dunno.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbM4uGjJ-fobSnCYq2gY3qqpruvJ9Z5OsiJraViWcsKIQOK4cPEgfxyou9qrmyyWKyqt_tLn8Y9rah4JRcudDYZeqJ0bpxnBqkpCubv8b-RXOqu7oMTOEjuIMvg56-M0cJFtD2KRQIPOw/s1600-h/sunaris002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 244px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbM4uGjJ-fobSnCYq2gY3qqpruvJ9Z5OsiJraViWcsKIQOK4cPEgfxyou9qrmyyWKyqt_tLn8Y9rah4JRcudDYZeqJ0bpxnBqkpCubv8b-RXOqu7oMTOEjuIMvg56-M0cJFtD2KRQIPOw/s400/sunaris002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360241346411786482" border="0" /></a><br />Yup, nother moon shot. I know they're spose to be Space Goats,<br />but the bottoms that match this top would have been WAY too furry.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-NB08Nu67EvrUvisJ7x4_ruAR4hb2yGgJEuyaSzQ0x10BWHTm8JywsGIj2OXVmrTM1RPiWOMYz0-uTNkwRJ-ANreEghcY2zk9EcPWPE4k67GpstcF1HwQQ8cZkRqNSr7VTMwlsOu_A-w/s1600-h/sunaris003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 326px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-NB08Nu67EvrUvisJ7x4_ruAR4hb2yGgJEuyaSzQ0x10BWHTm8JywsGIj2OXVmrTM1RPiWOMYz0-uTNkwRJ-ANreEghcY2zk9EcPWPE4k67GpstcF1HwQQ8cZkRqNSr7VTMwlsOu_A-w/s400/sunaris003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360241344136035170" border="0" /></a><br />The whole key to being a good Shaman is having as many glowy,<br />spinny, twirly, flappy and wipsy things on you as possible. So, yes<br />the moth is required.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINr3m6qpYCcBeY0LTx4LfQSOkihWj2N7ngcDypDCJ_gvAqIdmqt46EM3pRndc0RQptFVGnbCJh9r0Ks_exae-jCnbEZBGZ7C4PMkEz2Abzv-8S0NJACSoFcu4KUhfbnrTNal9eH_pUIE/s1600-h/sunaris005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 321px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINr3m6qpYCcBeY0LTx4LfQSOkihWj2N7ngcDypDCJ_gvAqIdmqt46EM3pRndc0RQptFVGnbCJh9r0Ks_exae-jCnbEZBGZ7C4PMkEz2Abzv-8S0NJACSoFcu4KUhfbnrTNal9eH_pUIE/s400/sunaris005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360241350623235106" border="0" /></a>RAWR!<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYg4GK8WlZ98kX5u6F9_NJhvtFdMmK5rDrkQprXgjsX7-S01onJAoH41cNE0dS1KjvfBkKHAWwvn7Q1pfii8KmRogPUpMdSAgRJaijOdKTzStnZXa8_0LdtuPnZMY5SCQztxtvgyVh28/s1600-h/sunaris004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYg4GK8WlZ98kX5u6F9_NJhvtFdMmK5rDrkQprXgjsX7-S01onJAoH41cNE0dS1KjvfBkKHAWwvn7Q1pfii8KmRogPUpMdSAgRJaijOdKTzStnZXa8_0LdtuPnZMY5SCQztxtvgyVh28/s400/sunaris004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360241353633228034" border="0" /></a><br />Stop and enjoy a sunset occasionally.<br />(Just mind the bear that's about to bite your big, bouncy booty.)<br /></div>Friday Macfayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488340330212549021noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468877507401817290.post-8977860318929005012009-07-05T13:32:00.009-05:002009-07-17T23:31:17.776-05:00Flower Picking Plate Wearers in 3.2 (So Far)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBt-t5BUtiPGp84ACHlp-i_Ko8hdCkU5S2NphDlkqaEsR-V7hTa-bfXRCGr5N73K5ow0dSuEZHEt856hexsosSRs8SbU2A3p8kh1J1JvjPph3kP0ypspJzlrpiJwcWHc1jHvcaA141cDc/s1600-h/fri_icon_43.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 125px; height: 141px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBt-t5BUtiPGp84ACHlp-i_Ko8hdCkU5S2NphDlkqaEsR-V7hTa-bfXRCGr5N73K5ow0dSuEZHEt856hexsosSRs8SbU2A3p8kh1J1JvjPph3kP0ypspJzlrpiJwcWHc1jHvcaA141cDc/s200/fri_icon_43.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357298969039516066" border="0" /></a><br />Warriors themselves are not really getting any love in<a href="http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/patchnotes/test-realm-patchnotes.html"> WoW 3.<layer id="google-toolbar-hilite-7" style="background-color: Dodgerblue; color: black;">2</layer></a>. We don't need it to be the most fun class to play, of course. :)<br /><br />But the changes so far have been... meh to wtf?!? I won't even go there until after the patch. At this point, I'm taking a wait and see approach, even if my inclination is to rage and bitch and throw a fit. Ahem.<br /><br />The more exciting changes for Warriors are coming in professions, and if you're a casual flower-picking plate wearer, things get really fun!<br /><br />All subject to change of course. Some links are from the<a href="http://ptr.wowhead.com/"> PTR version</a> of <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/">WoWHead</a>, so they'll break eventually. (And, let's face it, the chance of me going back and fixing 'em are pretty slim, so after 3.2 hits ya mights need to do a little searching. :P)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Alchemy</span><br /><br />The first big news is that pots will now stack to 20. Ha! Okay, why not 100? Oh well, 20 will do. You'll be able to pack enough of those<a href="http://www.wowhead.com/?item=40093"> Indestructible</a> and <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/?item=40211">Speed Pots</a> for several dungeon runs, extended questing, or long raids without having to refill.<br /><br />Professionally speaking, it'll mean less runs to the bank alt to unload all those pots you've made for sellin'. And you can sell in bulk for larger at-once pricing. It won't necessarily change the per item cost, but it'll make it more convenient to rake in the golds.<br /><br />On the other hand, maybe people will get so comfortable with the 20 stacks that they'll burn through them quicker. Which means they'll buy more. Selling is all psychology anyway. :)<br /><br />/end<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wishful_thinking">wishfulthinking</a><br /><br />The bennie ya get from <a href="http://ptr.wowhead.com/?spell=53042">Mixology</a> is getting a boost, but no word as to what or how much yet. For Warriors, this is always huge. Any buff is a good buff. I'm hoping for more than just longer duration. A <layer id="google-toolbar-hilite-8" style="background-color: Dodgerblue; color: black;">2</layer>-3% or so increase to the effect would be nice. Popping a <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/?item=44327">Deadly Strikes</a> or <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/?item=46377">Endless Rage</a> and getting a bigger bonus would be wicked good for DPS warriors.<br /><br />A new alchemy quest! "<span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >The recipe for transmuting a Cardinal Ruby can be learned from a quest, given by Linzy Blackbolt in Dalaran." </span>Any time we get a new Alchemy quest is a good day. No, no daily yet. Keeping fingers and toes crossed for that one, but not getting expectations up. The quest, apparently, is just transmuting the other epic gem enchants. Meh. I hope they change that. Epic gem requires epic quest, not standing in front of the mailbox wiggling your fingers.<br /><br />Not exactly sure why each profession doesn't have a daily quest or five. Hmmmmm.<br /><br />Speaking of transmutes... Has transmutation become a viable specialization again? Not! We ARE getting new transmutes for epic gems. I read that the cool down is currently set to 20 hours (subject to change). Which is fine. Start grabbing those gems and eternals for the initial wave of jewel crafters wanting to cut them. Do it early cause miners are gonna be charging an arm and a leg for the raw gems after the patch hits. You'll want to farm up all your Crystallized what-have yous, as well.<br /><br />Warrior alchemists will, obviously, want to set aside a bit of epic goodness for themselves. <a href="http://www.bananashoulders.com/2008/11/07/jewelcrafting-quick-reference-sheet-wotlk/">Banana Shoulders</a> has an AWESOME guide to the new gems thus far. Be sure to check it out and plan your transmuting accordingly.<br /><br />Tip: If you're going for the golds, take a good reading (using <a href="http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/auctionlite.aspx">AuctionLite</a> or r) for the next few weeks of which Rare quality gems sell best. The Epic versions of those will most likely be pretty popular.<br /><br />Warriors will be mostly interested in:<br /><br />Red: <a href="http://ptr.wowhead.com/?item=40111">Bold</a> (STR) and <a href="http://ptr.wowhead.com/?item=40118">Precise</a> (Expertise) <a href="http://ptr.wowhead.com/?item=36919">Cardinal Ruby</a><br />Yellow: <a href="http://ptr.wowhead.com/?item=40125">Rigid</a> (Hit), <a href="http://ptr.wowhead.com/?item=40126">Thick</a> (Def) and <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/?item=40124">Smooth</a> (Crit) <a href="http://ptr.wowhead.com/?item=36922">King's Amber</a><br />Blue: <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/?item=40119">Solid</a> (Stam) Majestic Zircon<br /><br />There's also Orange, Green an Purple combo versions of the above, of course. I'll be transmuting up and getting cut some Smooth King's Amber because my Crit sucks so bad.<br /><br />The mats you'll want to start stockpiling now are:<br /><br />Gems: Scarlet Ruby, Sky Sapphire, Autumns Glow, Twilight Opal, Forest Emerald, Monarch Topaz<br /><br />Eternals: Fire, Life, Shadow, Air.<br /><br />At this point, no Eternal Water. And Life and Shadow are actually used in two of the new transmutes. Don't forget to check your transmute eternal-to-eternal thingie. If you have Herbalism, for example, you'll end up with piles of cheap Eternal Life, which can be transmuted into the rarer <a href="http://ptr.wowhead.com/?spell=53773">Fire</a> and <a href="http://ptr.wowhead.com/?spell=53771">Shadow</a> Eternals.<br /><br /><a href="http://ptr.wowhead.com/?item=47499">Flask of the North</a> is the new Neverending Gobstopper for Alchemists. Weeee! Currently you need four Frost Lotus to make one. Expensive for non-herbalists, but you only have to make it once. It gives you a nice boost to either Spell Power, Attack Power, or Strength. No word yet on if this is a random effect or you can choose to make a specific type of flask. WoWhead lists one recipe that appears to be a random effect version, and then one each for SP, AP, or STR. I'm hoping for the latter. If so, Warriors will probably make both the AP and STR version, but again, ya only have to do one of each.<br /><br />While this won't replace your main Flasks or Exlixir combo, it's a perfect buff for running dailies, PvP, questing or normal/heroic dungeons on the cheap. Save those Flasks for the big runs!<br /><br />I do wish these were profession specific non-BoP items, though. I know that other Alchemists can make 'em, but they may not have Herbalism which makes getting Frost Lotus a bit expensive. So why can't I farm up the Frost Lotus and make one for them? Dunno.<br /><br /><a href="http://ptr.wowhead.com/?item=43569">Endless Healing Potion</a> and <a href="http://ptr.wowhead.com/?item=43570">Endless Mana Potion</a> now gives 2700 to 4500 instead of 1680 to 2160. Can't use it in arenas any more. /fine. This is an awesome boost. This, combined with your Alchemist trinket and, if you have Herbalism, Lifeblood and add in built-in Warrior healing abilities... bah, who needs a healer any more! Ha!<br /><br />Okay, I do. And I love each. and. every. one. of. you! Really. I was just kidding. Heal me. Please? :)<br /><br />Finally, apparently rage potions can now be used by Druids. Didn't know they couldn't... but um, hey more business is more business. Hooray for ragey druids! :D<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Herbalism</span><br /><br /><a href="http://ptr.wowhead.com/?spell=55503">Lifeblood</a> gets a boost. From 2000 over 5 second to 3600 over 5 seconds, currently. Yah! The patch notes also say that it scales slightly with maximum health. I imagine that'll be a small percentage that balances out the total percentage healed between toons with medium-range health and toons with high health. So... Warriors will obviously get a healthy boost from Lifeblood. (Sorry, first and final pun for this post.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Yet More Wishful Thinking</span><br /><br />For Alchemy, I'd still like to see a new application or two. For example, I still like the idea of salves and oils that can be applied temporarily to provide an item buff. Those are fun. Nothing huge that would be "required," of course. Or incense that can be burned to provide an AoE buff/debuff. I know Blizz got away from this sort of thing, but it always added flavor to the professions that I think is lacking now.<br /><br />For Herbalism, the only thing I'd like to see is a few more nodes added, and/or maybe sorta a faster reswpan rate. Not much, mind you, but just a touch. All too often lately, with two professions using herbs now, herb prices make it impossible to justify making the finished materials.<br /><br />I do Glyphs, on Neveron, and Pots and simply won't do them if the price per mat isn't right. Professionally speakin, it kinda kills the market for finished goods. Mats should certainly be profitable, but they shouldn't be more profitable than the final product!<br /><br />I don't think, sometimes, Blizz is terribly interested in the WoW economy, but it is a fun aspect of the game for many. A little tweaking to make the material goods professions a little more profitable would be a Good Thing. Yes, the gatherers should make golds, too, of course. But going to the expense and time needed to level up a crafting profession should have much greater rewards. With associated difficulty and cost to get there, of course.<br /><br />Anyhoo... Alchemy and Herbalism are offering a lot more for Warriors. That's always awesome. If the Crusade patch keeps going the way it is, Warriors in general are gonna be visiting the proctologist to remove the nerf bat. Sigh. So take what you can get where you can get it!<br /><br />Oh, and I finally found a class I like almost as much as Warriors. Don't know why I didn't try it out a long, long time ago. Shaman! :D Yah, I made a baby Dranei Enhancement Shammy... and she's a blast! Very Warriory like, yet.... very different. Different is good sometimes. :)<br /><br />-FriFriday Macfayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488340330212549021noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468877507401817290.post-86947531497238378772009-06-28T12:28:00.006-05:002009-07-17T23:12:52.645-05:00All Arms<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6QCTdf3ml0K4vBg1oggtNOptJb6gRbG9Yezce5zNSWsmSG7vy7si9wBdEjrygCTGQxUo5IUyVyPQDy1GfHoIsxb0RfhHnpYLKoS5QVIJ6MOvoofYQi1jjswFPt8IOL2bG8P1Umak_xwk/s1600-h/fri_shot085.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 189px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6QCTdf3ml0K4vBg1oggtNOptJb6gRbG9Yezce5zNSWsmSG7vy7si9wBdEjrygCTGQxUo5IUyVyPQDy1GfHoIsxb0RfhHnpYLKoS5QVIJ6MOvoofYQi1jjswFPt8IOL2bG8P1Umak_xwk/s200/fri_shot085.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352471897826443458" border="0" /></a>I've been Prot for... what? Five or six months now? Going back to Arms is a strange yet familiar experience. I'm not exactly sure yet where my thoughts on the current state of Arms Warriors is at. Prolly won't be for awhile. This is just some initial random impressions.<br /><br />I made the switch last week. Although with dual specs and a good gear manager (I use Outfitter, FWIW), "making the switch" isn't terribly difficult in a technical sense. Thar's two areas, though, that do make it... strange. :)<br /><br />First is the mental switch. The difference in how you play as an Arms Warrior and how you play as Protection Warrior is huge! Bigger than I thought six months ago. They could almost be two completely different classes. From strictly a causal perspective, going from Arms to Prot is a lot easier than the other way around.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1igztQAjzxYF4CDyacPb-meb2SXuN85XvJveDVZLSbrT8g6hf4QMOBcHRopwv5NJ-zZW_7ZHtFUFBuUOC38v9yNhLCU4BHnVjf3onKuYK-1Vwvm9fIaBtx9A2_a_EaDIqYvr7rGfpuc/s1600-h/fri_shot082.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 193px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1igztQAjzxYF4CDyacPb-meb2SXuN85XvJveDVZLSbrT8g6hf4QMOBcHRopwv5NJ-zZW_7ZHtFUFBuUOC38v9yNhLCU4BHnVjf3onKuYK-1Vwvm9fIaBtx9A2_a_EaDIqYvr7rGfpuc/s200/fri_shot082.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352471906907316082" border="0" /></a>I'm missing pieces, of course. I haven't done a lot of either in PvP, for example. For PvE, the roles are obviously different. I think a PvP Arms Warrior is (was, Pre-Wrath?) more similar to Prot in that the job is to survive and take focus while keeping your head out of your ass. Now, I'm not suggesting that Arms PvE firmly inserts thier head... but the scope of what you have to keep track of is less than that of a Prot Warrior. Arms PvE can actually focus in optimizing ability priority and the target in front of them while mainly worrying about not standing in some bad guy's excretions. A tank has to worry about that... and making sure everyone else is doing the same.<br /><br />So the mental switch is one where an Arms Warrior is going to be more inward and focused on personal performance. A Prot still has to do that, to a degree, but has to me more aware of taking care of everyone else (or at least keeping track of them) at the same time. The click from Prot to Arms is a little more difficult, at least in the short term. I didn't think it would be.<br /><br />I still run up to a group of mobs and TC the crap out of them when it'd be wiser to set them up for a Bladestorm first. Couple of close calls put an end to that non-sense in a hurry. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_eRMdGblTSaacBUPrtJfZaDtBm2U_JNVyvJt-SW45EsIaziU6yvo5J441iKrTv-6ke9gj3Rhfu214uXGliSMK9iItursJuGPDfTuOlBi64jX3aXks9GhRslJU80lGoN5weT5UMbBjg0/s1600-h/fri_shot081.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 125px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_eRMdGblTSaacBUPrtJfZaDtBm2U_JNVyvJt-SW45EsIaziU6yvo5J441iKrTv-6ke9gj3Rhfu214uXGliSMK9iItursJuGPDfTuOlBi64jX3aXks9GhRslJU80lGoN5weT5UMbBjg0/s200/fri_shot081.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352471902913662994" border="0" /></a>Oh, but for you less than uber-geared Warriors out there, like me... The rage generation from Arms is astonishing! I never could get the hang of it as Fury. Never had enough. As Prot it was always a "get it going" sort of thing you just put into your priority list. As Arms you don't really think about it. You swing, you have rage. You swing again, you have too much Rage. The hardest part is waiting for 3 second swing timer. :)<br /><br />Second is gearing. Going from worshiping Def, Dodge, Bock, Parry, Expertise to Hit, Expertise, Crit, AP is a gear nightmare.<br /><br />I kept a lot of the quest rewards from when I was finish off Stormpeaks and Icecrown. I also managed to have Sons of Hodir and Argent Crusade rep finished, and a Revered status with Ebon Blade, before the switch. So I didn't start scratch. But I'm still wearing a couple of Def peices and spent close to 1500g buying, gemming and enchanting.<br /><br />It's not bad, mind you. It's just something you have to consider if you dual spec. Your gear needs just doubled. Buy big bags.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvVwdvgULmAcLfLMeqJtv3UhYX0IQ5EJKCKoljvbbbJl1Zp167MJsrHFGl-MF_VeAMXkBeUXLMdoTQqrwsRx9JIdorqRfEIn7l4Ix1sjdHEXudLC4m83RQ_EAIhOuHoODnwXgmJ64YPM/s1600-h/fri_shot084.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 125px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvVwdvgULmAcLfLMeqJtv3UhYX0IQ5EJKCKoljvbbbJl1Zp167MJsrHFGl-MF_VeAMXkBeUXLMdoTQqrwsRx9JIdorqRfEIn7l4Ix1sjdHEXudLC4m83RQ_EAIhOuHoODnwXgmJ64YPM/s200/fri_shot084.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352471912154596706" border="0" /></a>Consider: As prot you'll have two armor sets. Assuming a few pieces are interchangeable, you're going to end up with most of a bag full of extra gear: one for survival, one for threat. Maybe three since for survival you might have both an avoidance and a stam/armor set. You might also have a resistance set. Like I said, many pieces will be used in two or more of those sets, but it's still a lot of titan steel to lugging around.<br /><br />As Arms, I don't know yet, but I can see two sets already. For one thing... I'm wearing freakin' leather!!! Yah, the best crit/hit enchanting gloves I could find so far are leather. Geez! From looking at gear lists, some of the best dps gear a mid level Arms Warrior can grab is leather and chain. Wild, eh? Luckily, most leather and chain has plenty of Stamina, but I can still see a need where I'll have to have a dps plate set, as well. And yah, I'll be spot tanking occasionally, so at the very least I'll be hauling around my lovey shield and super wicked loveittillidie nelf axe.<br /><br />Oh, and don't forget the resilience set. Gah!<br /><br />I haven't even gotten into the change in priorities for abilities, of course. Retraining your fingies to hit the right buttons takes a lot of practice. I didn't realize how out of practice I'd gotten. As Prot you can literally just sit in Def stance the whole time. Arms seems to sit mostly in Battle Stance. That's fine, but if you dual spec, you're switching one for the other. The only tip I can give here is make common buttons stay where they are. If TC is on a particularly button as Prot/Defensive Stance, leave it there for Arms/Battle Stance.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH2jVl6IN2sYDDwev4em4CEl3aHwdTdWS5QIliuJ-TAZl6A9-ou0Do6sCjsjammSAaPrUGxmU0PtRwMv_UUUHk-Qpc8huoonUYnCpx3PSuD2nLvw42XSuSyYHIgRdfloUROWtcPeeOO7Q/s1600-h/fri_shot086.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 125px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH2jVl6IN2sYDDwev4em4CEl3aHwdTdWS5QIliuJ-TAZl6A9-ou0Do6sCjsjammSAaPrUGxmU0PtRwMv_UUUHk-Qpc8huoonUYnCpx3PSuD2nLvw42XSuSyYHIgRdfloUROWtcPeeOO7Q/s200/fri_shot086.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352471918474570674" border="0" /></a>Common sense, but... yah, I moved it. Then moved it right back. :)<br /><br />Anyhoo, Arms is just a load of fun. I started Wrath that way and gushed about how much fun Blizz had made the class/spec. And I'll gush even more. Prot is a great spec to be now, but Arms is all about being a fun killing machine.<br /><br />I <3 being an Arms Warrior.<br /><br />-FriFriday Macfayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488340330212549021noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468877507401817290.post-75210587125965959182009-06-22T11:46:00.005-05:002009-07-17T23:12:45.349-05:00LOLeveling, wut?!?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96Mj-2fkYrlPmQpIsqqEh-P0X2aunt_TG6j-QY0z9Z9bkJPG8ojZvFx8BWZYqTUthjzDJzK_jeZXKM-GaPQEX-8to68m3QSDTy8xQ8YGMl60tfovqWxbBKK5Kmx5p5mCM3hEQ__D9LNw/s1600-h/fri_icon_43.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 125px; height: 141px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96Mj-2fkYrlPmQpIsqqEh-P0X2aunt_TG6j-QY0z9Z9bkJPG8ojZvFx8BWZYqTUthjzDJzK_jeZXKM-GaPQEX-8to68m3QSDTy8xQ8YGMl60tfovqWxbBKK5Kmx5p5mCM3hEQ__D9LNw/s200/fri_icon_43.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350217023142785602" border="0" /></a><br />I haven't had a lot of time to play WoW of late. Mostly dailies here and there. Playing a lot with guildies who are leveling up or leveling alts. Which is WAY fun! :D I was going to write about some f#$ktard in a Nexas PuG I joined that announced to the group "She can't tank!" But there's been more than enough bitching about idiots like that. How many "Oh I got in a bad PuG, woah is me" posts can I make? One more apparently. Besides, my witty retorte was "I can so, moron!" Drop group.<br /><br />Not my proudest moment.<br /><br />So I figured I might as well break down and talk about leveling.<br /><br />Sigh.<br /><br />I like leveling.<br /><br />I know, I know. Weird right?<br /><br />I like the old world quests. I like the flashy-light poof-ding of a level up. I like having that goal in front of me.<br /><br />Now it's just too damn fast.<br /><br />I'm perfectly aware that Blizzard has to provide some boosts. New people to the game aren't going to hang around long if they just want to get to level cap and it takes them three months or more to get there. Of course, current players that want to play at cap certainly aren't going to tolerate that.<br /><br />Yah, yah. I don't care.<br /><br />To me, WoW without the long leveling, and all the adventures that go with it, just looses a lot of its charm and experience. Both my new warriors (and every other alt I have), for example, have skipped entire zones! And the zones they are doing, they only get maybe 1/2 to 3/4 of the zone done before they grey out. Gah!<br /><br />The problem with leveling was never really an issue of speed. K, for some people it is. But for many the root of the problem is that old world Azeroth is WAY overdue for a make over.<br /><br />Blizzard seems to be catching on a bit. Faster leveling through more xp per kill/quest wasn't really the answer. That's just slapping on a bandaid without actually addressing the real problem.<br /><br />The original quests are designed to a) get you out in the world and b) get you to grind a bit. It's a big world with lots of stuffs that needs killings. You run for 19 days to go to some far away place... then spend 19 more days killing everything there. In the meantime, 19 freaks with exclaimation points over their heads are sending you off to other far away places.<br /><br />I like the exploration parts. I do like the send you to far away places quests. But it's probably not the best way to go about it anymore. Contrast with Northrend where all the aforementioned needy freaks are in the same themed place and actually seem to be conizant of each other. At least to the point where freak #1 gives you a quest that compliments what freak #2 is doing. You don't get the new ones based on what level you've attained, but rather what you've accomplished for said freaks.<br /><br />It makes more sense. It makes questing more entertaining.<br /><br />So why not redo Old Azeroth that way?<br /><br />The next fix I'd put in is no more free xp just for killing random stuff. Scale it back and add more in-game methods of gaining xp faster for those that want to do that. Heirloom items are a perfect example, but I suspect some players would like more.<br /><br />Why not have a turn in? Finish a quest, get a token to save up and turn in for either a bit more golds/silvers, a better piece of gear, OR xp. The quest rewards for old quests are mostly horrible. Take a page from Outland and Northrend and provide a way to get better stuffs while you level. It's more fun.<br /><br />(On a side note: please please please add something like the old gear upgrade quests to Northrend. I know they were a pain. I know they were hard. But for those of us that don't raid... well, throw us a bone here. Doesn't have to be uber-stuff. Just unique and powerful enough to make it worthwhile! Something that's not a daily grind, very hard and lengthy to get and is two ilevels below the current raid with new quests to upgrade that stuff when new raids come out. Wouldn't be terribly difficult and getting cap'd casuals back into Outland and old Azeroth for some of the chains would be a blast. Oh and let us upgrade our rep gear through the same epic journey/quest process! please?)<br /><br />The horse upgrade is brillant. It's what I mean when I say Blizz is finally getting it, as far their millions of casual players go. At least partially. Do you have any idea how much better and more fun Duskwood is when you can ride?!? Yes! No this does not make it "easier," per se. Well, in a way it does, but I don't count more fun and less of a drag as being "easier." Your mileage may vary. But yeah For The Pony!<br /><br />Add more optional xp gains, as well. Why can't lower level crafters make xp gear? I mean there's zero market for their wares as it is, why not create one? Enchant Weapon Street Smart Brilliance: Grants 2% XP bonus, with a chance on hit to give +5% xp bonus for 1 minute, on use grants 10% xp bonus for 10 minutes with a 2 hour cooldown. I'd buy something like that at level 40. yah.<br /><br />Reworking the old world would, of course, be a major undertaking. But it's one I think Blizzard/Activiaion would see HUGE dividends in more players playing more.<br /><br />Make it fun and easy, guys. Make two or three changes/additions a week (or even a month) and let players hunt them down.<br /><br />"What?!? There's a daily level 30-40 PvP quest in Hillsbrad now? No there's not! Wait.. yes there is! How cool is that?!?"<br /><br />"No there's no goblin teleporter to the Southern Barrens from Crossroads, noob! You just have to run. What?!? Wait... WTF?!? Where'd that come from?"<br /><br />A bet there's a billion fun little improvements Blizzard could make to the Old World. If done a bit at a time it would be more than doable.<br /><br />The problem, as I see it, isn't leveling itself ... it's that the leveling hasn't kept up with the players. You don't need to make it easier. You just need to make it more interesting and entertaining. There's a difference.<br /><br />-FriFriday Macfayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488340330212549021noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8468877507401817290.post-25113600428903235942009-06-07T00:25:00.004-05:002009-07-17T23:12:39.737-05:00Rules of Rage for non-Warriors<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3geV8htc9J4y3uw2CQd6mn8CYJrmz9XEsK40EWjHanSu94PLdBl2GKP4HjcKtxRLc3AecGhHODV8lPMo67b6FdH-c1utDaNSPR-eb5a6yNxQ0JgWVdzZvREqAeN6nAt_ceZp0pJSpvQ0/s1600-h/fri_icon_18.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 85px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3geV8htc9J4y3uw2CQd6mn8CYJrmz9XEsK40EWjHanSu94PLdBl2GKP4HjcKtxRLc3AecGhHODV8lPMo67b6FdH-c1utDaNSPR-eb5a6yNxQ0JgWVdzZvREqAeN6nAt_ceZp0pJSpvQ0/s200/fri_icon_18.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344459493767260306" border="0" /></a>In an on going effort to bring The Light (and by "Light" I mean "Warrior Awesomesauce") to the unwashed classes, here's a quicky on Rage for the non-Warrior. Please feel free to contribute if'n I missed somethin'. (Which, let's face it, is pretty likely).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rules of Rage (for non-Warriors)</span><br /><br />1. Your Warrior IS <a href="http://www.wowwiki.com/Rage">Rage</a>.<br /><br />2. Everything your Warrior does requires Rage<br /><br />3. Your Warrior is a sadist and likes to hit stuff to make Rage<br /><br />4. Your Warrior is a masochist and likes to get hit by stuff to make Rage.<br /><br />5. If your Warrior can not fill these basic needs, she gets no Rage. Sad Warrior.<br /><br />6. Do anything to prevent your Warrior from fulfilling these basic needs and she gets no Rage. Angry Warrior!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Aggro</span><br />Warrior tanks need aggro so that stuff will hit them and, thus, make Rage. Lots of Rage lets her hit stuff back really, really hard. Don't ever do anything that would prevent a Warrior tank from getting hit. Some Warrior tanks are SO good at not getting hit that they will take off their pants so that they get hit more. This is "normal." Don't run away and/or ogle their butt.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hitting</span><br /><br />Damage Warriors do not need aggro, but they must be able to hit stuff to make rage. If you do something that prevents them from hitting stuff, they make no Rage and can not hit stuffs. Damage warriors REALLY like to hit stuffs. These are the boys and girls that, when children, were told by their teachers "We can't hit other people, sweetie" and thought "Sure I can! Watch!" THWACK!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bubbles</span><br /><br />Warriors like Bubbles. They <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">do not</span> deprive your Warrior of her Rage-fix. Bubble, preisty! Bubble!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Threat</span><br /><br />Do not pull threat from your Warrior Tank, by accident, design, or stupidity. If you pull threat from your Warrior they will get less Rage. Less Rage means they will have less to pull threat back. Less threat for your Warrior means you will probably die. Your Warrior will then get threat back, makes lots and lots of Rage, and be very happy you are dead. Happy Warrior!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">AoE</span><br /><br />Only when your Warrior Tank asks for it. Which will be after they have lots and lots of threat and are punch drunk on Rage overload. AoE too early and you will take threat away. Taking threat away will make the Warrior have no Rage. Bad!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">CC</span><br /><br />Do not CC the Warrior's target. She will either break the CC and scoff at you, or will not be able to hit the target and, of course, get no Rage. She will, in either case, be very put out.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pulls</span><br />Do not pull for your the Warrior unless asked. Your Warrior is wise and knows much more then you regarding the <span style="font-style: italic;">Tao of Pissing Off Bad Guys</span>. You are an amatuer compared to your Warrior. A squeeky Padawan to her bitchy Jedi. Your Warrior is wisely plotting initial Rage and sorting out her masochistic/sadistic tendencies to generate more Rage. She'll pull when she's good and f&%@$#ing ready.<br /><br />Did I miss anything?<br /><br />:)<br /><br />-FriFriday Macfayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488340330212549021noreply@blogger.com1