WRUP: Foxlight and the fiercest mount, like, ever

Every week, just at the start of the weekend, we catch up with the WoW Insider staff and ask them, "What are you playing this week?" -- otherwise known as: WRUP. Join us to see what we're up to in and out of game, and catch us in the comments to let us know what you're playing, too!

Hello again. Foxlight here. If you don't know me, let me explain -- yours truly is accustomed to stretch limos. Orc chauffeurs. Throngs of worshippers. Glittery ponies. Fabulous accommodations. The best.

Which is why it was so hard on me when my dad cut off my credit card last month. "Frivolous purchases." As if! I needed that 8,000 gold worth of gloves and boots -- do you know how cutthroat the blood elf fashion scene is? And really, 8,000 gold is a bargain when you think about it. It'd have been way more if I'd bought shirts, too. In fact, when you think about it, I did him a favor! Ugh!

Anyhow. I'd been lowered to having to take ... public transportation. It's the worst ever. I mean, I'm not a racist, but ... goblins take public transportation. They smell weird. Like, greasy. I'm not a racist, though. I have a goblin friend. Just saying.

Okay, focus, Foxlight, back on topic. I needed a much more fierce mode of transportation. So I picked up the Silvermoon Pennypincher and found an ad for a barely used flying lion mount. He doesn't have sparkles, but he's still pretty fierce. And man, is he ever flaming. He was pretty expensive, too, but I sold my paladin-ing services in the back rooms of Ragefire Chasm to save up some money. Dirty work, but a blood elf boy's gotta do what a blood elf boy's gotta do. Took me a few weeks, but I put together enough gold to buy that stunning beast.

I must say, he was even more beautiful once I put a collar on him and made him mine. Gotta admit, at first I was worried that I'd have trouble riding him because he was so big. But I just had to relax and there was no problem. He's so gorgeous, oh my God. I rode him until the sun came up over Murder Row. The only problem, though, is that everyone in Silvermoon is now riding one. Foxlight sets the trend, and then all these followers just jump on.

So anyway, not that I even really care, but what are you doing this weekend? (Maybe we should brunch?) And, oh yeah: "Gigantic winged lion. Did you get it? Why or why not?"

Alex Ziebart (@AlexZiebart) I picked up The Void the other day because a buddy of mine highly recommended it. Immediately after I bought it, he says to me, "By the way, it's one of the hardest video games I've ever played in my life." So ... I'll probably be at that for awhile, in between work on that other site I write for.

I did not purchase the Winged Guardian, because I can't justify spending the $25 again. I bought the Glitter Stallion because it would give all of my characters a scaling mount and save me the hassle of going to town to buy my mounts all of the time. I don't have that justification this time, so no lion for me. $25 is ... kind of a lot. I bought The Void for one-third that price. An entire game.

Allison Robert (@AllisonRobert) I've been busy with some personal projects over the past week, and that's likely to bleed through the weekend. Re: winged lion and other items from the pet store, I have yet to purchase anything. Not that I haven't been tempted -- they're all very well done -- but as I wrote in a previous Breakfast Topic, I come from a long line of suspicious New England cheapskates for whom saving 10¢ on bulk toilet paper was a day for the diary. Oh, and what Dan says: Swift flight form > all.

Anne Stickney (@shadesogrey) I'll be working on various house projects and maybe even playing on the PTR a bit. As for mister glowy lion fluffypants, yes I have him. I got him the day he came out. I didn't mind paying the fee. I think he's much nicer looking than the sparkle pony, and he is a kitty, which was the one type of mount I did not have. I'm a mount collector, so yeah. Things are like freakin' Pokemon. His name is Mister Snuffles. :D

Basil Berntsen (@outdps) I have a newborn, so will be playing catch up on my sleep. I may also play some arena when he sleeps.

Chase Christian (@madsushi) I finished up L.A. Noire last week, so I will probably be leveling one of my alts this weekend. I don't enjoy leveling, so I have to force myself to do it when I can. Bonus: As usual, the moment the mount was released I bought one for my wife. I am not a big fan of the purchased mounts (I think they look dumb), so I'll continue riding my Nether Ray.

Dan O'Halloran (@danoh) Still working on the baby mage. I thought I would level her through PUGs, but those are incredibly shaky at level 20. Only one out of five make it to the end of the instance intact. On the second book in The Game of Thrones series and can't put it down. Also, preparing to head to E3 for three days next week in Los Angeles to help out the Massively crew in their coverage of all things MMO.

I don't own any flying mounts since my main is a druid and I adore insta-cast flight form. I like to fly above a crowded area of Stormwind, shapeshift to bear form, hurtle down towards unsuspecting players, then shift back to bird form at the last moment. Sometimes I even manage to shift back in time before I hit the ground.

Daniel Whitcomb (@danielwhitcomb) I'm headed out of town to visit some friends, so I'll probably have a relaxing, WoWless weekend. I haven't purchased the lion mount just because I don't have any characters who would use it at the moment. I may end up buying it for my hunter if I level her again, though.

Dawn Moore (@dawnwow) I'll probably just spend the weekend writing. MLG Columbus is relatively close by, but I'm still deciding if I want to go or not. I love watching pro players, but the presentation of the tournament makes it difficult to watch all the games you want to. Particularly when they're having technical difficulties ... As for the lion mount, I didn't get it because it's a hideous travesty.

Fox Van Allen (@foxvanallen) So, last weekend I said I'd be playing L.A. Noire, but when I was at Best Buy, a copy of Portal 2 was just calling my name. I'll probably be playing a lot of that. Oh, and a certain worst blogger in the world and I will be heading out to the beautiful Harbor Islands just off the coast of Boston.

Honestly, I think paying $25 for a mount is pretty dumb when you can get them for free in-game. That being said, I do have one -- not because I bought it, but because my guild gave one away this week and I was the lucky winner. Foxlight looks good on it, I guess.

Joe Perez (@Lodurzj) More leveling of my worgen warrior alt Peter Barker! Going to chain run a ton of dungeons now that I have a pocket healer, and it should be a good time! If anyone is on Ner'Zhul and in their mid-40s, feel free to come along!

I did indeed purchase a Winged Lion of awesomeness. I think the mount is spectacular. The visual is amazing, it looks fantastic on all of my toons, and it's just nifty. I think it's probably the best mount they've done next to Mimiron's Head. I also think it blows sparkle pony away. It's a luxury item, though, and nothing more, but I like my glowing lion of win. I named him Walter Sobchak.

Josh Myers (@Elamqt) I'm in the middle of leveling up my balance druid, mostly through PVP. Shooting Stars is probably my favorite talent in the game. As for the winged lion -- I just moved, so I can't really justify the extra money right now. If I had the discretionary income, I'd so be there, though.

Kelly Aarons (@Cadistra) I started a goblin arms warrior and I am in love, so I will be leveling her this weekend. I'm also really gunning on finishing Outland as well. Stupid Sky Dragon ... *shakes fist.* As for the Winged Lion -- it's gorgeous, I won't lie, but a.) it doesn't fit with any of my characters RP-wise, and b.) I'm jobless, and on a good day I don't have two pennies to rub together, so ... no. $25 can feed me for week. ~_~

Lisa Poisso (@emused) I'll be catching up on sleep. Maybe it was the holiday on Monday or something, but this week has just been upside-down. But no matter whether I get right-side up again or not, I won't be doing anything with a Winged Guardian. Mounts just don't do it for me, let alone mounts that cost real cash. Dude -- that coulda bought a stack of books from Half Price Books ...

Mat McCurley (@gomatgo) I am trying to finish up L.A. Noire this weekend so I can start replaying the Riddick games on the 360. Also, WoW. Yes, I got the Winged Guardian. I think it's one of the best mounts Blizzard has made available to players, it looks great, all my characters get it, and it was an affordable luxury for right now. People need to not take DLC like this so personally. Optional content is optional.

Matthew Rossi (@MatthewWRossi) I'm mostly playing insomnia. Haven't slept in days at this point. Done some runs on the shaman, may go chain run stuff on the warrior for a palate cleanser. I'm also working on a Mass Effect play-though for a perfect Mass Effect 2 play-through. I want to be ready.

I did not buy the Winged Lion because I didn't want one. That's the great thing about content like this. If you don't want it, don't buy it. I swear, some folks act like Blizzard kicks in the door and steals the money right out of their hands.

Matt Walsh (@Rhidach) Playing some Civilization 5 this weekend, plus working through Half-Life 2 (which I was inspired to play again thanks to Portal 2). One of these days, I'm going to listen to Eli and not go to Ravenholm.

I didn't buy the lion because it doesn't really appeal to me, though I don't begrudge anyone for picking one up. Looks pretty cool -- just not my scene. Plus, I can't bring myself to ride anything other than my Hippogryph.

Michael Gray (@writegray) I spent the last few weekends fixing my tractor and working around the land, so I'm looking forward to some spring cleaning, and getting in a little more ZA/ZG.

Bonus Question: Not sure yet, but I might. The price doesn't bother me, as much as I'm waiting to see if it becomes so common that it's boring.

Robin Torres (@cosmiclaurel) I'll be leveling up my various alts, as usual, but in the evenings I'll be crocheting and knitting while watching period pieces on Netflix. I adore my sparkle pony and do not feel the need for the pretty flying kitty, but The Spousal Unit won't shut up about the new mount, so I expect he'll own it soon.

Sarah Nichol (@mentalshaman) I shall be dozing in the afternoon sun with a pint of pear cider (the alcoholic kind) or wandering over the hills and far away in a place we call the Black Mountains. I might also trip along to the Hay on Wye Literary Festival to hear Rolf Heuer talk about CERN or David Papineau debunking "neuromythology." If I don't get heat exhaustion, I'll be playing my dwarf paladin and troll shaman through the old world.

Oh, and with regards to the lion: It is pretty and I want one, but I just purchased BlizzCon tickets, a new electric toothbrush, and just paid my fiance's airfare back to Holland (where he shall be living for the next 2-3 years while we save for a house). I just can't justify it.

The weekend is the perfect time to kick back, relax and enjoy some game time. Are you an achievement junkie? Can't get enough raiding? Rolling a new alt? Considering taking the leap into roleplaying? Whatever your favorite way to play World of Warcraft, let us know in the comments what you're playing this weekend!