The Queue: A most demanding corpse

Welcome back to The Queue, the daily Q&A column in which the WoW Insider team answers your questions about the World of Warcraft. Anne Stickney (@Shadesogrey) slices, and dices, and has been known to julienne.

All I can say about the above screenshot is that it was a really weird night.

sejastwd asked:

So if the mogu can animate/reanimate stone and what-not, how much of a stretch would it be to use that kind of ability to bring back Magni?

Oddly enough, not that much -- although it's unclear at this point whether the mogu stumbled upon this on their own, used Titan technology, or managed to figure out something involving the Sha. If it's Titan technology, perhaps we'll see Magni back sooner rather than later -- one can always hope, right?

Celedrian asked:

Should the Guild Greeter addon be banned?

Oh boy.

For those not in the know, there are a handful of addons out there that will automatically spam new characters on a server with a guild invite and a whisper. If you've ever wondered why, upon rolling an alt on a new server, you were suddenly bombarded with invites to twenty different guilds in the span of ten seconds, this is the culprit.

I do have to be very careful with my wording here, and emphasize that this is my opinion, not the opinion of anyone else on staff and certainly not the opinion of Blizzard -- but frankly, yes. Yes please. Kill it. This problem is so incredibly annoying that people have made addons specifically to counteract against these types of addons. And if someone has to go out of their way to do that, I think that's a sign the addon shouldn't be functioning in the first place.

Edymnion asked:

Are the comics and novels actually good for the franchise? The primary source for all things World of Warcraft is the game. The games have always been the source of everything in the Warcraft universe, but lately we've had so many novels and comics with heavy lore content that is not reflected in the game. Major world changing events happen outside of the primary source, which then just instantly changes to reflect those changes with no explanation. Are the comics and novels making the Warcraft universe better with all of the expanded lore, or worse by damaging the game they are meant to enhance?

I'm probably the wrong person to be answering this question if you want an unbiased answer, but I'm a firm supporter of all out-of-game lore-related stuff. Let's face it -- there are just some things that cannot be addressed within the context and the scope of the game itself. There are some things like the subtle nuances of character development that are very difficult to portray in just a few short cutscenes and a smattering of dialogue.

But even more than that, the Warcraft universe is massive. There is no way that the game could focus on every story in the game simultaneously and give all of those stories the absolute justice that they deserve. So some stories are put in game, and made as cool as possible. Some are attributed to novels and comics. With the latest direction the novels have been taking, they're becoming less of a tool to tell stories that weren't told, and more of a tool to deliver the nuances of current story that can't be shown in game. I like that direction. It makes the novels relevant.

SteveJ asked:

The treasure room run is a ton of fun. Maybe they should add more things like this to the game. Is there a downside to having this type of content?

Well, I'm not a fan of the treasure-hoarding sauroks running around in there, but other than that, I see no downside! I like the treasure room a lot. So far I've spent most of my time exploring the first room -- there are way, way more chests in there than you would think. More than enough to spend five minutes on.

yarfkat asked:

Since phase 2 opened up on the Isle of Giants, I have yet to find the saurok quests. I found where the zandalari questgivers moved to, and the crypt givers are in the same place. I really enjoyed the saurok quests (cause that costume is just awesome!) Did I miss something? Can we no longer get those quests?

They're still there! It's just that the quests are part of the rotation now. It took a few days, but I finally saw them pop up again on my server. Don't worry, super-jumping bug-squashing filth-killing dino-worshipping adventures are still yours to be had.

@Mementh asked via Twitter:

what do you feel teaches people to play better.. Dungeons or scenarios?

Oh, that's a tricky question. I think that scenarios teach players to play better in the context of learning their abilities -- particularly the ones that involve survival, since there are no healers involved. So you get to practice and play with abilities you may not have previously paid much attention to. I think dungeons teach people less about their own character, and more about working with others. Theoretically, anyway. Yes, you'll have your trolls in the dungeon queues, but you'll also learn to work with others in the context of a party and party roles. So they each have their benefits, depending on what you mean by "play better."

@crikit310 asked via Twitter:

Who voices Scout Captain Elsia? She sounds so familiar?

I've been told that is Cree Summer, who has voiced just about everything under the sun. I'm not kidding. Notable roles include Penny from Inspector Gadget, Susie from Rugrats, Elmyra from Tiny Toons, Executor Selendis in Starcraft II, Auriel in Diablo III, and countless more. Check her IMDB, it's incredibly impressive.

@Adamdm_ asked via Twitter:

What's your favorite story in Warcraft (post Mists launch) and why? Bonus: What makes a good snack food for long play sessions?

I'm a fan of Medivh. I think he's a fascinating character that never quite got that emotional punch that by all rights he should have. Here's a kid, son of a mage and the most powerful sorceress on Azeroth, comes into his power at puberty and accidentally kills his father in the process. Blacks out. When he wakes up, he's not a teenager anymore -- he's a thirty-four year old man. Do you know how much you learn and grow in between your teens and your thirties? An obscene amount. Having that time period simply ... wiped from existence had to have been terrifying all by itself, not to mention the part where he killed his father. Oh, and that whole possessed-by-Sargeras thing, too.

Medivh is super messed up and amazing and I'd love to read more about him. Heck I would love to write more about him. He's a hell of a character.

As for snacks, my go-to are Sun-Dried Tomato and Basil Wheat Thins. Yes, it sounds weird. But they are seriously delicious.

@andrefmt asked via Twitter:

how I can be the prettiest orc in ogrimmar?

Well first you get a magic mirror. Then ask the mirror who the prettiest orc in Orgrimmar is. If it isn't you, kill them. I think that's how these things work. Watch out for dwarves, though.

Have questions about the World of Warcraft? The WoW Insider crew is here with The Queue, our daily Q&A column. Leave your questions in the comments, and we'll do our best to answer 'em!