Elizabeth Harper
Articles by Elizabeth Harper
WRUP: Welcome to Warlords edition
It's the first weekend of Warlords of Draenor, and after the long wait for the expansion to arrive, Team WoW Insider -- and, probably, all of you -- are pretty excited about getting their playtime in and rushing to max level. So we're up to this weekend probably won't surprise you: we're playing Warlords. But for the specifics on what in-game antics we're up to and what we've enjoyed the most along the way, read on. And, of course, feel free to speak up in the comments below, telling us just what you're up to in-game this weekend -- as well as what your favorite part of the expansion is so far.
BlizzCon 2014: Art gallery celebrates Blizzard's past and present
The Blizzard art gallery on display at BlizzCon is always worth a visit for convention-goers, but this year's gallery was a special treat highlighting the history and development of Warcraft and World of Warcraft. If you were looking for a trip down memory lane, this was the place to be: along with early concept art and design documents, a monitor cycled through screenshots of WoW's past, including an early image of WoW running on the Warcraft III engine, the first Molten Core raid and the first Blackwing Lair raid (the which goes about as well as you'd expect). After the opening ceremony announced Overwatch, an empty part of the gallery filled with Overwatch concept art and attracted most of the attention away from Warcraft's past... but it was fun to venture back into Blizzard's past before heading into Blizzard's future. For more art, check out the full gallery below.
BlizzCon 2014: Diablo 3 adds Ruins of Sescheron, new items
Diablo 3 fans may not have as much excitement from BlizzCon this year as Hearthstone fans or StarCraft 2 fans, but there are a few changes coming as Blizzard continues to refine the Diablo experience to maximize fun and minimize the frustrating grind that characterized the game at launch. Though this year's panels spent the majority of their time talking about the development process that brought Diablo 3 to the place it is now, there were some hints at the future, new monsters, new items, and an early demo of a new area, the Ruins of Sescheron (which you may remember from its brief appearance in Diablo 2: Lord of Destruction). As to a new Diablo expansion, the devs refused to give a yes or no answer, but we live can live in hope, right? In the meanwhile, check out our galleries for a look at what's coming, or keep reading for a rundown of upcoming changes.
BlizzCon 2014: World of Warcraft Q&A liveblog
Get ready to talk Warcraft! The last World of Warcraft panel of BlizzCon is the Q&A, where BlizzCon attendees can pose any questions they like to the development team. Here's what you can expect: Members of the World of Warcraft dev team tank your questions about the game's lore, zones, dungeons, raids, and more. This free-for-all panel always has some interesting moments, so stay tuned for this year's Q&A, live from the BlizzCon floor. The panel kicks off at 3:30 PM PST (6:30 PM EST), so stay tuned!
WRUP: Exploring an all-new Hallow's End
The holiday season of Hallow's End is once again upon us, and this year we get a special treat: after a few years of the same old holiday, Hallow's End has gotten some updates. This year, you've got new loot to spend your Tricky Treats on, including costumes and new pets. We may still be a few weeks out from Warlords of Draenor, but new holiday collections do give us something to do. So just how is Team WoW Insider tackling this updated holiday? Read on and we'll tell you all about it! Plus, be sure to jump down to the comments to tell us just what you're playing this weekend.
What is BlizzCon and how can I keep up with it?
If you're new to the game or play casually, you may be wondering just what all the fuss is about BlizzCon. So just what is BlizzCon and what does it mean to you? We'll start at the beginning: BlizzCon is a convention held by Blizzard where they announce new games (and expansions), hold panels with developers, let the best players in the world show off their skills in tournaments, offer hands-on demos of just-announced games, host costume and talent contests, and other fun Blizzard-centric activities. The con is held in sunny Anaheim, California on a standard Blizzard "when it's ready" schedule -- typically every couple of years, though sometimes it's an annual event. This year's convention will be on the weekend of November 7 - 8th and if you want to attend... well, unfortunately tickets are sold out. However, you can still pick up a virtual ticket which will let you watch live streams from the convention floor, access the BlizzCon-exclusive store, and pick up some in-game goodies -- like this year's Grommloc murloc pet -- for $40. But is it worth it -- and do you even care? Well, maybe. Here's a rundown of what you can expect to happen at BlizzCon this year -- and how to keep up with the news from afar.
WRUP: Patch 6.0 surprises
Patch 6.0 has finally arrived, and with it comes plenty of changes and even a few surprises. Yes, even though Team WoW Insider has been eagerly awaiting the latest patch for a good long while now, there were details we missed, changes we expected that didn't appear, and just things we hadn't thought about until we logged in for the first time post-patch. But a new patch and new content means we're definitely playing this weekend, surprises or otherwise. To find out just what sort of virtual trouble the team is diving into, read on -- or join us in the comments to tell us what you're playing in this post-patch weekend.
WoW Moviewatch: Top 5 Heroes in World of Warcraft
Sure, the World of Warcraft has plenty of villains, but there are plenty of heroes, too. And since without heroes, we probably wouldn't have much of an Azeroth at this point, I'm sure we're all pretty glad that Warcraft's heroic figures have stuck around. So to balance out his earlier video on villains, Doronsmovies has put together a list of the top 5 heroes in World of Warcraft. The list itself is debatable -- we've all got our favorite heroes, and a top 5 list doesn't have room for everyone -- but it does offer a nice look at some of the heroes of Azeroth and their lore. Have favorite heroes that didn't make the cut? Let us know about them in the comments! 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.
Lost on what's happening in WoW? Catch up here!
The lore of World of Warcraft can be a bit hard to keep up with, being as it's spread not only throughout the large (and growing) game world, but also in books, comics, and the original Warcraft games. And with Warlords of Draenor -- and yesterdays's patch 6.0.2 -- poised to shake up the story even more, you may want to take the time to figure out what's going on so you'll better understand the events to come. So just how did we go from crash-landing on Pandaria to repelling a Blasted Lands invasion? To help answer that question, Blizzard has put together a nice walkthrough of the story of Mists of Pandaria with a glimpse of what we'll start to see with today's patch: Iron Tide Rising. And if you're still looking for more lore, there are also suggested novels to dive in to -- or you can check out our novels guide.
How professions are changing in Warlords of Draenor
Like with every expansion before it, Warlords of Draenor will be shaking things up. Professions will get their skill caps increased to 700 and you'll find new recipes (and new epic gear) waiting for you in Draenor. But it's not all business as usual: some major changes in Warlords will be shaking up how professions work and how they fit in with the rest of the game. Blizzard's goal here seems targeted to opening up player choice: you shouldn't be forced into a profession or be penalized for not having or leveling one. This doesn't mean that the advantages of having a profession are going away, but come Warlords some unique bonuses will be gone, people without a profession will have additional access to it, and leveling professions will be more straightforward for players who might not have focused on professions in the past. Here are the biggest changes: Profession-based bonuses are gone. And, though we may be losing some perks, with the stat squish and resultant rebalancing in Warlords, this is the ideal time for Blizzard to make this switch. The end result is that you won't have to pick a profession for a specific combat bonus... but can have whichever professions you most want. You can gather anything in Draenor, regardless of skill level. We saw this happen with mining and herbalism in Pandaria in patch 5.3, and now it's expanded to cover all gathering professions, making it easier to level up a gathering profession from zero. Players with higher skill levels will gather more materials than players with lower skill levels. In addition to gathering professions being easier to level, crafting professions all have catch-up recipes that will let you level from zero onward using Draenor materials. This will probably make it more expensive if you plan on buying materials (since everyone will be looking for the same new-world materials), but less of a nuisance if you're gathering your own. Garrison buildings will allow you limited access to professions you don't have... or improve your abilities in professions you do have. Want to know all the details? Read on to see just what's happening for professions in Warlords of Draenor.
WoW Moviewatch: Pointless Top 10: Shipwrecks in WoW
Have you missed Wowcrendor's Pointless Top 10s? Besides a list of the top 10 top 10s, it's been a while since we've seen a new top 10 from Crendor. But wait no more, because we have been graced by a new -- but still completely pointless -- top 10 list. This week, we're talking shipwrecks. Because it's a pointless top 10 and not a super serious top 10 (do those even exist?), there are some liberties taken... like the inclusion of a whale, which is not a ship. (Unless maybe you put a saddle on it.) Still, if you haven't taken the time to explore the myriad coastlines of Azeroth this gives you a look at the surprising number of devastating wrecks along the shorelines. And, while some of these were clearly the work of the cataclysm or attack, with the sheer number of shipwrecks -- the list is a long way from comprehensive -- you've got to wonder whether Azeroth's captains are terrible or Azeroth's ships are terrible. Or maybe both. 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: Patch 6.0 is just around the corner!
The weekend means WoW time, and since this is our very last weekend before patch 6.0 arrives, most of team WoW Insider intends to take advantage of this time to try to finish last minute tasks. Will we finish all of our pre-patch must-dos before the deadline? Only time will tell. Curious about what the team is up to in-game this weekend? Want to regale us with your own weekend (and pre-patch) plans? Drop us a line in the comments!
WoW Moviewatch: Top 10 Pointless Top 10s
Holy meta, Batman! Wowcrendor has been making "pointless top 10s" for a while now, and we've been enjoying them. But the most recent list is the very definition of meta, because it's a top 10 list of his own pointless top 10s. If you can wrap your brain around that, it is a fun watch, especially if you've enjoyed other videos in the series, bringing back fond memories of top 10 lists past as well as pointing out oversights in previous lists. Sure, it's not forging bold new territory, but with "pointless" right in the title that's hopefully not what you were expecting in the first place. 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: Vigil
The Scourge ruin everything. That's just Warcraft fact. Take Andorhal as an example: we've all leveled through Western Plaguelands and dutifully picked up quests around the Scourge-ridden city... but once it (and Loaderon next door) were prosperous cities... but not, unfortunately, anymore, as our protagonists are once again stymied by the onslaught of the Scourge. This video by PallyPowerXIX forms a loose continuity -- or at least features the same characters -- as previous videos Southshore, Epilogue, Those Winter Veil Blues, and Aftermath. But while most of these are set to songs with lyrics that suit their stories, this one only has instrumental accompaniment, and it feels all the more mournful for it. 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 Lost Opera
Why does Karazhan's Opera Hall only have three shows? With a castle full of ghosts apparently stuck inside forever/until we kill them/until the next raid reset, it seems like the lack of variety would get old quickly, and maybe cause some ghostly rioting. (Perhaps that's why every show seems to end with the death of the performers?) PallyPowerXIX has discovered a fourth show at the Opera Hall... but unfortunately it's a musical. Well, in life and un-life you just can't have everything. 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: Top 5 Villains in World of Warcraft
There are a lot of villains in World of Warcraft, so many that Azeroth could start its own megalomaniacal villain academy. (Or has it already?) But just who are the worst of the worst? Doronsmovies tries to narrow down WoW's collection of bad guys into a list of the top five villains in this video, alongside the lore and stories behind each villain. Whether you're familiar with them or not, it's an interesting look into Warcraft's most villainous characters. But are these really the worst of Azeroth, or do you think Warcraft has worse to offer? Love to hate or just plain hate, WoW has plenty of bad guys to encounter throughout the game world, which makes it tough to narrow down. 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.
Breakfast Topic: What will you be playing in Warlords?
An expansion launch in World of Warcraft is a good time to re-evaluate your gaming priorities. With expansions come change, and change means that you may find your class, your game role, or the game in general more -- or less -- appealing. It's the perfect time to make a class switch if you've been thinking about it -- or just don't like what the latest class changes have left your current main with -- because with the entire player-base leveling up, you won't be any further behind the curve than anyone else. So with change well on its way with the upcoming Warlords of Draenor launch, now's the time to weigh your options and consider just what you'll be playing come launch day. Will you stick with your main or are you switching classes? Are you leaving the game or coming back to it? Will you be finding a new guild or revisiting an old one? Tell us, readers: just what are you going to be playing when Warlords launches?
WoW Moviewatch: How to Win at Transportation
If you're lost and wondering just how to get from point a to point b in World of Warcraft, this video by Wowcrendor probably won't help you. However, it does offer a look at the many annoyances and oddities associated with WoW's transportation system. Why can't flightmasters send you places until you've gotten the flight path? Don't they know where that place is? And what about those boats and zeppelins that run 24 hours a day -- when do their poor crews get a break? No, it won't improve your game (or "win" in any conceivable way), but this video probably will make you laugh. 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 6.0
As the week once again segues into weekend, team WoW Insider gets ready to kick back, relax, and, of course, game. But while we might be diving into WoW, our minds are focused on one thing: patch 6.0, which will bring many of the conveniences we expect to see in Warlords of Draenor to the game now. The patch has been testing on the PTRs and is likely to land on live servers soon... so the question is, what is everyone most looking forward to from the first game patch since Siege of Orgrimmar? Read on to see just what the WoW Insider team thinks and be sure to chime in yourself in the comments!
World of Warcraft subscription fee goes up in China
Playing World of Warcraft in China is a little different than playing World of Warcraft just about anywhere else. In addition to content changes to suit the Chinese government -- like corpses being replaced with gravestones -- the payment method is different. Instead of paying for WoW on a monthly basis, Chinese gamers pay an hourly rate for access. But starting on October 16th, that rate is getting an increase -- the game's first price change since it launched in the region -- and a pretty sizable one, at that. The new fees are 30¥ (about $5) for 2700 minutes and 15¥ (about $2.50) for 1350 minutes, an increase of 45%. Though those rates may seem low by our standards, it's a big increase for Chinese gamers, who have accounted for more of WoW's recent subscriber drop than gamers elsewhere. A big rate hike doesn't seem likely to help the game hold on to the game's Chinese subscribers, who don't even have this fall's launch of Warlords of Draenor to look forward to.