Elizabeth Harper
Articles by Elizabeth Harper
WoW Moviewatch: Garrosh and the Chopper
Did anyone see the Matthew McConaughey Lincoln commercial and not think about Warlords of Draenor's crazy time travel plot? McConaughey's unfocused rambling could refer to a lot of things, but any sci-fi fan has to stop and wonder "Wait, are we talking about time travel? Is Matthew McConaughey a time-traveller now?" You know who else is a time traveller? Garrosh Hellscream. And when Ian Beckman combines McConaughey's (slightly altered) monologue with machinima, it works perfectly to tell the character's story. And maybe sell choppers. We're not really sure how that part works. Interested in the wide world of machinima? We have new movies every weekday here on WoW Moviewatch! Have suggestions for machinima we ought to feature? Toss us an email at moviewatch@wowinsider.com.
Player gets 100 characters at level 100
No, this feat isn't impossible. A WoW-player named Watola has managed to level 100 characters up to level 100, which has a nice symmetry to it. Watola started work on this project towards the end of Mists, working with two accounts (each account is limited to 50 characters, so this is a must) to level two characters at once with Recruit-a-Friend bonuses. Always leveling with one tank meant getting into dungeons and clearing them, even solo, was easy XP. Getting to 85 in this way took Watola 5-8 hours, depending on the class -- likely taking advantage of rested XP (easy to gain when leveling so many alts) and heirloom bonuses. At 85, an alt would be paired with a max-level hunter to farm Pandaria elites, which, if they were tagged by the alt before being killed by the hunter, the alt would get full experience for. This would earn a level every 20 or 30 minutes with full rested, and Watola would cycle through rested alts to maximize XP gain. At 90, Watola took his army of alts to Timeless Isle, gearing them up to an average ilvl of 507 to be ready for questing in Warlords.
Breakfast Topic: When do you play?
World of Warcraft has some pretty standard "prime time" hours. After people are out of work or school -- or after the kids are put to bed -- they return home and pile into the game. This makes these "prime" hours a great time to run LFR or find a group doing the Apexis daily, but crowds and make it a lousy time to go out trapping for savage blood or to farm rare (and camped) materials. So with that in mind -- and following up on yesterday's topic -- just when do you jump into the game to play? I have a tendency to jump online in the middle of the day for some quiet time farming or doing other daily tasks when I'm not likely to be interrupted -- though, of course, if I'm getting in on any particular group activities I have to shoot for those prime time hours. But what about you, readers? Do you keep to late nights or do you prefer to play during the day? Just when is your prime playtime schedule?
Try these 100 weapon transmogs for a new look
If you're on the hunt for the perfect weapon to compliment your transmog, The Lazy Peon has you covered with this video. In it, he shows off 100 different weapons from all angles to help you pin down the perfect look. (It's certainly easier than browsing through lists of swords on Wowhead.) Every weapon shown is currently obtainable, and you'll find out where to get it, what it costs, and its drop rate, too. This video does require a bit of an attention span, though -- as you might guess, showing that many weapons with that much info takes up a hefty amount of time, and the video clocks in at nearly 19 minutes. Still, if you want to get a good look at all of the best weapon options, this is probably easier (and perhaps even faster) than searching for images of each weapon -- though for those of you who prefer your information text based, there's a list below the video. Happy transmogging!
WoW Moviewatch: You want to be a hunter
Have you been thinking about rolling a hunter? If so, you might want to start by checking out this machinima by Mooclucking which walks you through the hunter basics. Unfortunately, this hunter trainer has seen a few too many night elf hunters named Legolas (or some equally identifiable variant) in his time and doesn't have much patience for newbies... but it all works out in the end. After all, the spirit healer can fix that right up, so happy hunting! Interested in the wide world of machinima? We have new movies every weekday here on WoW Moviewatch! Have suggestions for machinima we ought to feature? Toss us an email at moviewatch@wowinsider.com.
WoW Moviewatch: The Alliance
Not sure which WoW faction you should be playing? King Varian Wrynn explains just why you should become part of the Alliance in this new machinima from Nixxiom. Beyond the photogenic statues of Varian looking heroic, there are also tons of great people in this open-minded alliance that fights for justice and the good of all. Though, in hindsight, perhaps Varian should have pre-screened some of these interview candidates. While talking about the everyman about the glory of the the Alliance may have sounded like a good idea, it hasn't exactly demonstrated the Alliance's selling points. (Which are gnomes, obviously.) Interested in the wide world of machinima? We have new movies every weekday here on WoW Moviewatch! Have suggestions for machinima we ought to feature? Toss us an email at moviewatch@wowinsider.com.
WRUP: Free to play edition
Welcome to the weekend, everyone! For many of us, the weekend means it's time to game and that means World of Warcraft. This weekend, we're also abuzz about just what the recently announced Veteran Edition of WoW means -- is it a useful tool to help Blizzard bring back former players, or simply a stepping stone towards a free to play future? Only time will tell for certain what Blizzard plans to do... but in the meanwhile, there's no reason we can't speculate. And, of course, talk about our weekend gaming plans. Read on to see just what team WoW Insider is up to this weekend -- and be sure to let us know what you're playing in the comments!
We want this amazing WoW LEGO lamp
There are some talented WoW players out there, like Bangoo H who built this LEGO Infernal that not only looks spot-on for the original, it lights up. Building the body half from gray bricks and half from semi-transparent green bricks allowed Bangoo to wire the model up with LEDs to make it glow for the appropriate fiery appearance. Though most of this looks like it could be put together with fairly stock LEGO parts, the head is the challenge: Bangoo used a the head of the Crystal King from the 2009 Power Miners set, to which he added light-up eyes to complete the Infernal effect. However, the set is a bit hard to find and would probably be the snag in recreating this Infernal for yourself. You can check out more pictures on Bangoo H's Korean-language blog or admire a full-sized image below the break where you can be dazzled by its light-up glory. [Via: io9]
Will a Veteran's Edition join WoW's free to play ranks? UPDATED
Update: We've gotten an official announcement from Blizzard saying that Veteran Edition is coming with patch 6.1 as a way for players who have ever had a subscription to log on, chat (with restrictions) and play (also with restrictions) even after their subscription has lapsed. This version of the game will have all of the restrictions the Starter Edition has, but let you check in with the game (and your friends) without paying for subscription time. Original post: Since the patch 6.1 files well and thoroughly datamined, another rumor about free to play WoW has started making the rounds. Hidden in the patch data is a new account type called Veteran Edition which is set up to have similar restrictions to the Starter Edition, in which you can play for free up to level 20. However, just what those restrictions are aren't yet defined: all we know now is that there are new strings in the patch file that refer to a Veteran Edition. Though there are plenty of military personal who play and love World of Warcraft, we really can't say what this Veteran Edition is -- but if it gave military or veterans a chance to revisit WoW that only seems like a good thing. However, it might yet turn out to be nothing at all... or just an idea that wound up in the patch files that may vanish by the next PTR release. Though Blizzard has expanded the game's microtransactions, sparking rumors that WoW itself would be going free to play, Blizzard has said before that there are no plans to make the game free to play. So even if we do get a Veteran Edition, it's probably not a segue towards a free to play game -- but we're definitely curious as to where this is headed. [Via Cnet]
Our must-have Warlords of Draenor addons
There are some addons that we all know, love, and use -- and have for numerous patches and expansions now. I'm talking about mainstays like Deadly Boss Mods or Recount. But with the new features in Warlords of Draenor (not to mention new addon development), it's worth taking stock of your current addon collection to see if there's something new that might make your gameplay a little easier. This collection of addons is the WoW Insider team's favorites -- and must-haves -- for tackling Warlords of Draenor content. It doesn't list every addon we use, just our personal favorites and the mods we find particularly useful this expansion. Have your own necessary addons? Let us know about them in the comments!
WoW Moviewatch: The Story of The Murlocs & Their Relatives
Murlocs may not be your favorite characters in World of Warcraft, especially when you're just having a pleasant walk down the beach only to find yourself swarmed by them. However, beyond just being annoyances, there's some interesting lore behind these creatures, though you have to cobble together lore from a number of different sources -- or watch this video by BellularGaming, who's already done the research for us. So will we be seeing more of these many-finned creatures in a future expansion? As with most Blizzard projects, we'll only find out when it's done. Interested in the wide world of machinima? We have new movies every weekday here on WoW Moviewatch! Have suggestions for machinima we ought to feature? Toss us an email at moviewatch@wowinsider.com.
WoW Moviewatch: The Problem with Rogues
Admittedly, all classes have their oddities... but it's possible that rogues have more oddities than most. After all, how many other classes have an invisible friend/troll to call up for quests? It makes our rogue friends a bit hard to trust. (Well, that and the pickpocketing.) So can you (or should you) really trust that rogue standing next to you? Slightly Impressive tackles this particular issue with their latest machinima, "The Problem with Rogues." Of course, the only thing worse than having an imaginary friend/troll is arguing with your imaginary friend/troll. And the only thing worse than that is someone seeing you arguing with your imaginary friend/troll. Rogue life is full of challenges. Interested in the wide world of machinima? We have new movies every weekday here on WoW Moviewatch! Have suggestions for machinima we ought to feature? Toss us an email at moviewatch@wowinsider.com.
WRUP: Looking forward to 6.1 edition
Though there's no telling when Warlords of Draenor will get its first big content patch, we've started to hear whispers about patch 6.1 which will no doubt be heading our way "when it's done." But that's no reason that we can't start talking about it -- and what it might include -- now. So today in addition to what we're playing this weekend, we're breaking out our patch 6.1 wishlist. Why don't you join us? Jump into the comments to tell us what you're playing this weekend and also let us know what you're hoping to see when patch 6.1 comes around.
WoW Moviewatch: Leaving Tonight
A lot of music video machinimas set appropriately themed or paced WoW imagery to music, but this video by Chriskon Machinima (which uses "Leaving Tonight" by The Birthday Massacre for a soundtrack) also aims to tell a rather complex story. Sure, it has the gorgeous visuals and spot-on timing you'd expect from a music video, but the story you're watching is an original tale of an undead waking for the first time without realizing just what she's become. Admittedly, it's tough to tell a full-fledged story with nothing more than visuals and music -- and I probably wouldn't have gotten all of the plot without scrolling down to read Chriskon's description. However, the animation and music work together to present the story beautifully, and it -- and Chriskon's other videos -- is well worth watching. Interested in the wide world of machinima? We have new movies every weekday here on WoW Moviewatch! Have suggestions for machinima we ought to feature? Toss us an email at moviewatch@wowinsider.com.
WoW Moviewatch: Walking in the Air
Today's music video machinima comes from Sharm and WoPairs -- Sharm did the singing and WoPairs set it to machinima of some of Warlords of Draenor's gorgeous scenery (with a cameo from Pepe). The song itself is a cover of "Walking in the Air" from the children's movie The Snowman, but it honestly works perfectly in a WoW setting (yes, even the mention of a sea monster is in the original). The scenery in Warlords, combined with the new high-rez models, seem like ideal fodder for machinima-makers, and it's great to see them taking advantage of the world's new settings -- here's to more machinima in the new year! Interested in the wide world of machinima? We have new movies every weekday here on WoW Moviewatch! Have suggestions for machinima we ought to feature? Toss us an email at moviewatch@wowinsider.com.
Trap-stealing hotfix is on the way
If you have a barn in your garrison, chances are you've run into this problem: trap stealing. As you go out to trap beasts, especially elites for Savage Blood, you've probably run into the nuisance of other players trying to trap the creatures you're trying to trap. This makes collecting Savage Blood a headache that often has to be done very early in the morning or very late in the evening, to avoid other players and the problems that can come with them. However, Blizzard is currently working on two changes that will make trapping a lot less frustrating. First, they plan on increasing the spawn rate of elites that can be trapped, to make these rare creatures a bit less rare -- and thus easier to come by. And more importantly, in order to trap a creature you'll need to have tapped it, which means a random person can't just come by and trap your kills. We don't yet have an ETA on when these fixes will arrive, but Takralus says they're being tested as we speak -- so hopefully they'll be live soon.
All wings of Highmaul LFR now available
If you're looking to continue your journey to LFR domination, the third and final wing of Highmaul opened today. This last wing is home only to Imperator Mar'gok, and, like all other LFR wings, you'll need an ilvl of 615 to queue up. Need a helping hand taking Mar'gok out? There are some great guides to Mar'gok on other difficulty levels that will give you an idea of what to expect -- though, as always, his abilities will be dialed down for LFR difficulty. Take a look through these guides to get an edge on the LFR competition: Icy Veins Ten Ton Hammer GameSkinny Git Er Raid FatbossTV (and for a super quick recap, check their Highmaul in 60 Seconds video) LoS Gaming Good luck in LFR, everyone!
WoW Moviewatch: Top 5 Quest Lines
The question of the best quest lines in World of Warcraft is a contentious one, as we all have our favorite (and least favorite) in-game moments, which makes creating a definitive list tricky. However, that's no reason not to give it a go and so Doronsmovies has rounded up his top 5 quest lines in a new video. While these aren't the most lore-heavy or, necessarily, most essential quests, they're all fun (or at least interesting) moments in World of Warcraft history. Even if you disagree with this particular list, it begs the question as to what your top 5 quest list would be. Would they contain any of the quests from Doron's list or would they be completely unique? Interested in the wide world of machinima? We have new movies every weekday here on WoW Moviewatch! Have suggestions for machinima we ought to feature? Toss us an email at moviewatch@wowinsider.com.
Look back on Azeroth's past with classic Kalimdor images
World of Warcraft has changed a lot in the ten years its been out, rendering the face of Azeroth completely unrecognizable in places -- though it's still nearly un touched in others. So while we look forward to another decade of WoW, let's look back, too, on the game world past, and how much World of Warcraft has changed over the years through these (mostly Wrath-era) screenshot galleries of the world as we then knew it. Today's nostalgia-filled tour of Warcraft's past takes us to Kalimdor, where orcs, tauren, elves, and draenei began their adventures in the game world. (Yes, goblins venture through Kalimdor, too, but Aszhara looked a little different by the time they arrived.) So let's take a trip back in time to revisit Kalimdor's past.
Look back on Azeroth's past with classic Eastern Kingdoms images
World of Warcraft has changed a lot in the ten years its been out, rendering the face of Azeroth completely unrecognizable in places -- though it's still nearly un touched in others. So while we look forward to another decade of WoW, let's look back, too, on the game world past, and how much World of Warcraft has changed over the years through these (mostly Wrath-era) screenshot galleries of the world as we then knew it. We'll start our tour in the Eastern Kingdoms, home of Molten Core, Stormwind, and the Undercity... and where many of us started our World of Warcraft journeys. Click on for a trip through Azeroth's past!