Addon Spotlight: Addon Roulette and win a Razer Nostromo

Each week, WoW Insider's Mathew McCurley brings you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which focuses on the backbone of the WoW gameplay experience: the user interface. Everything from bags to bars, buttons to DPS meters and beyond -- your addons folder will never be the same.

I'll be honest -- this week is a resting week. BlizzCon 2011 was awesome, way too much fun, and exciting for us on the ground. I am tired. I am so tired. My plane got delayed, my train didn't come when it was supposed to, and my cats moved in to my spot on the bed. I was gone for like five days, and they already think they own everything. Alex Ziebart, your new editor-in-chief of WoW Insider, said I should do something different to shake out of the post-BlizzCon excitement slump, so here's Addon Roulette.

What is Addon Roulette? I went to Curse, closed my eyes, and started clicking on things. These were the addons that I hit.

Event Alert

My first series of random clicks brought me to the Buffs and Debuffs tab of Curse's site, which then lead me to EventAlert. EventAlert is a addon similar in vein to TellMeWhen that displays your big class procs when they happen, right in the middle of the screen for you to see. Along with the visual proc indicator, you get a timer that tells you how long you have to use that proc. From what I've seen, it's particularly useful for death knights and paladins, both proc-heavy classes.

The addon is lightweight, and one of its biggest plusses in my opinion is that there is barely any setup needed. You actually don't have to set up anything. Install the addon, and you're good. There are some options that you can tinker with by typing /ea options, but in reality, you don't have to mess with buttons, options, etc. Just go for it. If you don't already have a system set up, like a complicated set of Power Auras, check out EventAlert. It might be just what you were looking for.

Download EventAlert at [Curse].

Deadly Boss Mods

You're kidding me. Did I really land on Deadly Boss Mods? Actually, now that I think about it, Deadly Boss Mods is a good way to discuss why you should be updating your addons frequently and what is so great about World of Warcraft's addon community.

Updating your addons is usually a good thing to do. Not only does updating make sure that you're at the correct version of an addon that is using all of the new and optimized Lua code, but also that it doesn't accidentally send update or upgrade messages off to other addon users. Bad code sometimes can't be read by addons after they've been updated and the code changed -- language syntax, commands, and more might have changed with the recent updates. Updating your addons is a good thing.

An addon like Deadly Boss Mods is constantly in flux because of the tweaky nature of raid encounters and design. Everything could always be better optimized, you see. Addon creators and authors work very hard to keep these addons working in tip top shape, and you can tell which addons do it best by the commitment these authors assume when updating and perfecting their addons.

Do yourself a favor and update frequently. You'll be a better person for it.

If you don't have Deadly Boss Mods or another addon that does its job, you should check it out at [Curse].

Spin that roulette wheel (or barrel, depending on the severity of your roulette game) one more time ...

InFlight Taxi Timer

Oh, perfect! This is an excellent random pick. InFlight Taxi Timer does exactly what it sounds like it does: It shows you how much time you have before you land at your destination. Are you currently working on the Hallow's End achievements? Are you going from town to town, flight point to flight point, looking for trick or treat baskets? Of course you are. Don't you want to know exactly how much time you have to, for instance:

• Get up and get a soda

• Pee

• Say hello to loved ones you haven't seen in awhile

• Pee again

• Feed your malnourished pets

• Shower (do this please)

• That soda finally got through you, so it's probably time to pee again

InFlight Taxi Timer works great when you're traveling across continents, too. Sometimes, in order for me to force myself to get off the damn game and write, I'll go to Undercity and fly to Booty Bay. Articles usually get done in that time period. So, basically, this is a productivity tool.

You can customize the bar with loads of options and add in take-off confirmation if you so wish. It's a lightweight, solid addon that has been in my miscellaneous addons in some for or another for a long while now.

Download InFlight Taxi Timer at [Curse].

Addon mailbag? Sure, why not. Real quick, though, because I'm almost at Booty Bay on my flight.

This question actually has to do with the Razer Nostromo and my review of that peripheral. I'd like to talk about more peripherals on Addon Spotlight, since I think they seem to fit with the same sort of vibe as addons do. Anyway, here's the question:

The palm rest adjustment on the Nostromo is fairly static. It's in a good position, however, and was very comfortable for my hand. However, at BlizzCon, I saw a [REDACTED] at Razer's Booth and [REDACTED] all of my issues with [REDACTED]. What I'm trying to say is I'll have a really cool preview up of some of the new Razer stuff that might answer this question a whole lot better in the near future, so look for that.

Win a Razer Nostromo

For next week, I'm going to do an all comment mega-addon recommendation Addon Spotlight. It's going to be a rapid-fire comment article all about everyone's favorite addons! All you have to do is post a comment on this article and you have a chance to win a Razer Nostromo. Include your favorite addon as well to potentially be included in the article next week, but it's not necessary to enter to win the Razer Nostromo. Comment by Thursday, November 3, 2011, for a chance to win. US and Canada only (minus Quebec), as usual.

Get to commenting, ya'll. See you all next week.

Addons are what we do on Addon Spotlight. If you're new to mods, Addons 101 will walk you through the basics; see what other players are doing at Reader UI of the Week. If there's a mod you think Addon Spotlight should take a look at, email mat@wowinsider.com.