yesterday-in-warcraft
Latest
Daily WoW news
Shifting Perspectives: Hit Rating, Expertise and Defense skill for PvEShifting Perspectives explores issues affecting druids and those who group with them. This week John Patricelli, sometimes known as the Big Bear Butt Blogger, offers guidance on three of the Feral Druids' key combat mechanics; Hit Rating, Expertise & Defense skill. Addressing time issues with Warsong Gulch As Zach Yonzon has pointed out, Warsong Gulch, the capture-the-flag battleground, is broken. Despite Warsong being his favorite battleground, there are several issues confronting PvP'ers. "Make them bleed blue"The idea of more abilities that directly affect mana is an interesting one. Right now, there are only four "mana drain" spells in the game. Would this be too overpowered of a mechanic for PvP? Join the discussion! 15 Minutes of Fame: Confessions of a teenage warlock 15 Minutes of Fame is a look at World of Warcraft players of all shapes and sizes – both the renowned and the relatively anonymous. The subject of this week's 15 minutes may well surprise you... The Light and How to Swing It: The paladin's guide to engineering Engineering is indeed a viable (if still largely unprofitable) profession. While some may have soured on engineering after the pre-BC era, the new, revamped Engineering has some wonderful tricks, toys, and ways to fill in the gaps in the Paladin play-style.
WoW weekend news
WotLK Bestiary unveiledBlizzard has started to release more beasties from the upcoming Wrath of the Lich King expansion for World of Warcraft. If you haven't gotten a chance to check out some of the new creatures, be sure to pop in and check these out! What are heroics for?WoW Insider's Adam Holisky recounts the tale of a recent, rather bizarre, heroic instance run wherein a Warlock took all loot and sharded it, claiming that heroics are meant to be for badges only. Are the badges truly changing the system dynamics, or is it just a question of one bad player being a loot hog? Me, myself, and Quel'SerrarEver miss certain weapons or gear from pre-Burning Crusade? Just think some of the models were better? What would it take for Blizzard to update some of the older gear with newer stats and abilities? For that matter, would anyone really want them to? Eureka! And other such moments of raiding brillianceAfter spending hours and hours wiping in a raid, with tensions high, how do you best suggest great new strategies to the raid leader -- and not land a "50 DKP minus" in the process? Check out this great column for tips and tricks on how to get your point across without making yourself a target. From PvE to PvP: My first 15 levelsHaving started on a PvE server and jumping to a PvP server can be daunting enough, but Adam has decided to take it one step further and record all his triumphs and mis-steps. Ever thought about switching servers? Come see how the other half live.
Yesterday in Warcraft: January 16, 2008
Happy Birthday Outland!One year ago today, we the huddled, shivering masses (well, shivering in many parts of the country, anyway) got our hands on Burning Crusade, the first ever WoW expansion. Blizzard started saying shortly thereafter that they would be attempting to make one expansion per year... The AV map imbalance in patch 2.3Alterac Valley has never been completely balanced. Before patch 2.3, most people generally agreed that the map favored the Alliance, but now, we can see that it favors the Horde. The difference mainly lies in which parts of the map are most important, and how either side can use the terrain differences to win the game. The evolution of the gold farming industryWe've all seen what I call the evolution of spam in-game. First it was just straight tell spam. Blizzard fixed that. Then it was group spam. Now it seems gold farmers have taken to just sitting in the capital cities and screaming their lungs off until they get reported and/or zapped by a GM. Apparently you can have too much gold Players have discovered that there's a cap on how much money you can have in the game -- 214,748 gold, 36 silver, 48 copper. After you reach that lofty sum, you'll no longer be able to receive money from any source. Though this exact limit had previously been theorized to exist, there had been no reports of anyone in the game actually achieving this amount.... World of WarCrafts: IRL Dirge's Kickin' Chimaerok Chops This week I thought I would tackle the only (as far as I know) Epic cooking recipe that WoW has to offer, Dirge's Kickin' Chimaerok Chops. This recipe is only available upon completion of a quest and has a panda on the front. What could be better than that?
Yesterday in Warcraft: January 14, 2008
Attunement: A big hassle or not a big deal?I recently dinged 70, finally after a long haul. Naturally, I was all hopped-up to run Karazhan until I learned I needed to first complete an arduous attunement process... Officers' Quarters: The wrong stuffLast week, I wrote about the "right stuff" to look for in a good officer candidate. I mentioned five traits to value in a candidate: maturity, generosity, good communication skills, emotional intelligence, and game knowledge. Necessarily, that means someone who is immature, greedy, barely literate, emotionally stunted, and a total noob would have the "wrong stuff." Wrath "gear reset" confirmedWe've suspected this all along, but now Bornakk has confirmed that yes, when the next expansion comes out, we'll all be turning in our epics for green gear once more. The Art of War(craft): A rambling year in review As the shadow of the aptly-named WAR, or Warhammer Online -- which trumpets a supposedly rich PvP and RvR (Realm vs. Realm) experience -- looms, World of Warcraft appears increasingly lacking in PvP content. More and more, suspicion arises that WoW PvP is flawed by design.
The weekend in Warcraft: January 11 - 13, 2008
The Care and Feeding of Warriors: Saying hi to the new bossOne of the drawbacks of playing a tank is needing to have a certain threshold of gear in order to do the job. You might well know how to hold aggro exceedingly well, but if you don't have the armor, defense, mitigation stats and health to stand up to the pounding then you'll die and dead warriors are insanely bad at hold aggro. Insider Trader: A disenchanted professionBack in the early days of the Azerothian economy, enchanters performed enchants with their own mats. You didn't sell anything you didn't have all the mats for, with the exception of special items such as Righteous Orbs for exclusive, high-end enchants.... Harsher penalties for AV AFKersLeeching in Alterac Valley -- or, as Blizzard puts it, "non-participation in Battleground games" -- has been a problem for about as long as the new Honor system has been in place (not so new now). AFK punishment is still just a band-aid As Drysc said, the problem isn't just a matter of punishing people who break the rules, it's finding out why they are doing this, and change their incentives, so that they don't want to break the rules in the first place. All the World's a Stage: If looks could kill But there are many men out there who don't like such exaggerated manliness in their characters, just as there are many women who don't want their character to look like a dainty barbie doll. Spiritual Guidance: So you want to play a Priest... There are lots of reasons you might want to play a Priest. Perhaps you like the idea of smiting your enemies. Perhaps you want to melt faces. Perhaps you want to help your groupmates by providing healing. Or maybe you enjoy the god-like feeling of being completely in control of which members of your party live or die.
Yesterday in Warcraft: January 10, 2008
Totem Talk: We were not preparedBut it can't be denied that shamans have been angry this year. Despite the introduction of shamans to the Alliance, they're still the least played class in the game. So what happened with shamans to bring them to such a state of discontent? Gamers on the Street: Patch? What patch?With all the noise there about various buffs, nerfs and changes in Patch 2.3.2, you'd think that all of Azeroth and the Outland would be in turmoil. But when we popped in on Doomhammer server to see what players thought about Patch 2.3.2, response was considerably underwhelming. Blood Sport: "Locks OP as hell," says top WarriorIn Season 2, the top teams in all three brackets of the Bloodlust battlegroup all had one toon in common: Serennia, a female gnome warrior. The diminutive warrior quickly earned the nickname "best warrior in the world." Blizzcast reveals Sunwell details Episode 1 of Blizzard's new podcast, cunningly titled "Blizzcast," went live today.... A more extensive overview is forthcoming, but for now, I imagine what you really care about is Jeff Kaplan's hints for the upcoming patch 2.4. Advanced Animatronics: The creations, calibrations, and controls of combat companions For advanced technicians and amateur tinkers alike, the finer points of Engineering can never be too often reviewed. Engineers will tell you: your life may just depend on it! Well Fed Buff: Maiev's Grudge This decadent dessert is truly epic in content: powdered sugar, melted butter, graham crackers, semi-sweet chocolate ... demonic possession, jealousy and revenge (trust me, you want to be sure anyone in aggro range is disarmed or silenced if there's any doubt as to loot rules for this dessert)... Maiev's Grudge has it all.
Yesterday in Warcraft: January 9, 2008
Encrypted Text: 222223, or how to level 1-20 as a rogueHowever, I rolled my rogue ... well, I rolled my rogue a long time ago. An embarassingly long time ago. Suffice it to say that when I rolled my rogue, Gwen Stefani was singing about not being a hollaback girl... Tales from the Lion's Pride Inn: Captain BlainArr, apologies for gettin' this new page up so late in the day, but me thinks it be worth waitin' for. I be talkin' like a pirate because all ye scurvy dogs be meetin' another new character today -- Cap'n Blain. Fixing healing in BGs with daily quests Reader James sent along this shot as an example after he saw my post a while back on how bad the state of healing in the BGs is, but actually, I think it's an improvement... Patch 2.3.2 has some issues In addition to good things like Transmutation mastery being fixed, and changes like AV being hotfixed to buff Balinda and Vandar, there are a host of bugs and minor issues from the Hammerfall wind ride master hiding under her usual spot to Hunter's getting their new Volley graphic revered to its older form... You'll always remember your first Finishing that starting area and realizing there was a whole World out there, grouping up for the first time, and learning just how all the spells worked and what everything looked like -- your first character may not be your main now, but odds are it's still sitting there on the server, like an old friend from years ago. RP Spotlight: Pets can be more than just decoration But sometimes, as a roleplayer, if you pat your pet wolf on the head, you might expect it to look up at you with those adorable puppy eyes; or if someone else pats its head, you might expect it to bite their hand off.
Yesterday in Warcraft: January 8, 2008
Guildwatch: Caught redhanded, but too lateWho could that be? A former officer of Death Squad-- they had some jerk get promoted to officer in their guild, and then grab their stuff and ditch them, leaving them nothing but this log full of stolen items. Not cool. Be careful out there. Reader WoWspace of the Week: ShaardFor this week's entry, we've got four pictures from Shaard... For an in-depth look at a candid and unedited WoWspace, join us after the jump when Shaard tells us all about it. The Light and How to Swing It: Year in ReviewIt seems like only yesterday I was standing in line at midnight to grab my copy of Burning Crusade, and now it's almost a year later. While the new year has already started, it's not too late to look back on some of the changes the Paladin class has seen in '07. Reader UI of the Week: Slazareth the Moonkin This week we're bringing you a Druid UI that (unlike the Druid MovieWatch yesterday) features a lot more than just an action bar full of Moonfire. For those interested in this week's Boomkin UI, check out all the information after the jump from Slazareth! 15 Minutes of Fame: Noor the pacifist ...and Noor the pacifist, who levels without intentionally killing anything. Now, this isn't the first time we've heard of players who've given this idea a whirl, but Noor seem to have the gumption and persistence to make it to the top of the XP tree. Build Shop: Mage 10/47/3 For awhile now, Fire has been the tree of choice for the raiding mage (though some vets will remember fire-unfriendly MC and BWL). Although Fire isn't the only spec for raiding, it is the build I'm examining today.
Yesterday in Warcraft: January 7, 2008
Stretching yourself too thinBut sometimes I have a problem, in that everyone I know has the same work and play schedule, and as a result, they want me to tank or heal or DPS for them at the same time. I don't know about you, but I can't tank Heroic Shattered Halls for my wife while DPSing in Heroic Ramparts for my friends. A literally talentless playerThis guy is either a clueless newb or an obvious troll, but either way, he claims that he didn't just forget to use his talents, he actively chose not to. That's right -- he claims he can go all the way to 70 without using talents at all. Player suggestions for fixing Alterac Valley In response to a post-patch-2.3 post about the limitations and issues with the new AFK reporting feature for battlegrounds, many people commented with some interesting ideas for improvement. Watch out for Ritual of Refreshment ninjas I've heard about this multiple times since Ritual of Refreshment was first introduced in 2.3: Mages are a little combusted over casting this food creation spell in the battlegrounds. Officers' Quarters: The right stuff Think you've got what it takes to be an officer? The author of this week's e-mail does, but he wants to know how I figure out who is fit for the position. The Art of War(craft): Outdoor PvP, part II The battle rages on in The Burning Crusade where four out of the seven zones in Outlands have World PvP objectives. Some work better than others, having quests that lead players to the objectives, while some are just plain confusing.
The Weekend in Warcraft: January 4 - 6, 2008
All the World's a Stage: Something to remember me byThe best characters in novels and movies often leap into your mind from the moment you first see them -- something they say or do sets them apart and captures your interest, and from that time on, you're hooked. The Care and Feeding of Warriors: This is the year that was Ah, 2007. A roistering, boistering year. What? No, I'm pretty sure boistering is a word. You can't find it in the OED, you say? Look again, I'm sure it's in there. Spiritual Guidance: Mind Vision of 2007It's been quite the year for Priests, just like most other classes. About this time last January, the big ol' Burning Crusade expansion rolled out, essentially taking WoW's most loved clothies and turning them on their ears. A question of culture clash As I went through Ironforge to pick up my Winter Veil presents, I saw one of those ads for a new guild, "<Guild Name> is a new RP guild looking for mature new members! PST to join!" and I thought, "Why not check it out? At least there'll be someone to talk to." Insider Trader: A year in the making (err, crafting) I'm a details girl – and I think that's why I enjoy crafting. I actually enjoy the process of researching where to find recipes, making shopping lists and traveling to collect ingredients. On battleground belittlers There's a growing list of things that aren't cool in battleground chatting: whining and complaining about how your faction and everyone in it is a noob...
Yesterday in Warcraft: January 3, 2008
Another day in Warcraft brings us a Gamers on the Street interview asking about your new years resolutions, a look back on 2007 for Arenas, Totem Talk discusses taking deaths personally, we review the Ron Paul rally on Whisperwind, and the mounts we might see in Wrath of the Lich King.
Yesterday in Warcraft: January 2, 2007
The holidays are winding down in Azeroth, and everyone is getting back to their daily grind. Yesterday in Warcraft, we have making your own healthstones, the most recent tale from the Lion's Pride Inn, a look back over 2007 for Warlocks, in-game age discrimination, the old honor grind, and our review of latest Illegal Danish machinima.
Yesterday in Warcraft: January 1, 2008
Have you been ringing in the new year with World of Warcraft? We have! For yesterday's news from the World of Warcraft, we have leveling help for your new Druid, a walkthrough of the Horde Paladin epic mount quest, discussion of our Death Knight-ridden future, the idea of scalable dungeons, raid healing assignments, and a Tauren who claims he was fired over a screenshot.
Yesterday in Warcraft: December 31, 2007
It's New Years' in the world of Azeroth, compete with fireworks and plenty of your beverage of choice. The guards in Booty Bay may be dozing from too much drink, but the World of Warcraft isn't asleep. We have the top ten WoW stories of 2007, the year in review for rogues, discussion of selling raid slots, and how to deal with significant others in your guild.
The weekend in Warcraft: December 28 - 30, 2007
Wanting to know the latest from the World of Warcraft? WoW Insider has what you need! We've got weapons for warriors, the year in roleplaying, the week's comics, tipping tanks (no, it's not like tipping cows at all), engineering new friends for yourself, and connect-the-dots gathering.
Yesterday in Warcraft: December 27, 2007
Another day in Azeroth has come and gone, and yesterday's news and info includes your new years' Arena goals, the week in events for casual players, Shaman utility in groups, some interesting munchies for your next gaming session, a political rally in Azeroth, and taking down Molten Core with only 3 players. Click on to read more from the latest in World of Warcraft.
Yesterday in Warcraft, Holiday Edition: December 25 - 26, 2007
Official news from the World of Warcraft front has been scarce over the holidays, but that hasn't stopped the WoW Insider team from offering analysis and commentary. See the latest tales from the Lion's Pride Inn, images from this year's Feast of Winter Veil, as well as our regular features on Druids, Warlocks, Paladins, and raid healing.
Yesterday in Warcraft: December 24, 2007
With the holiday season upon us things are pretty quiet in World of Warcraft. But for those of you spending your day off gaming, WoW Insider has guide and information content written especially for you. So what's the hold-up? Click on!
This Weekend in Warcraft: December 21 - 23, 2007
Wanting to know what happened in the World of Warcraft this weekend? Now's the time to catch up! Over the weekend, WoW Insider has brought you: a week's worth of casual content, an explanation of PvP honor calculations, the latest in the care and feeding of warriors, your guide to the daily quests in Skettis (part 1 and part 2), how to deal with disenchanting in groups, the latest in phat lewt, what will actually kill WoW, how to bring down Kael'thas, and roleplaying for the holidays. And if you need an additional dose of holiday cheer, don't forget to check out Ideazon and WoW Insider's 12 Days of Winter Veil countdown, with daily Ideazon giveaways!
Yesterday in Warcraft: December 20, 2007
Happy Friday, everyone! As we head into the weekend, there's some interesting news coming from the World of Warcraft, including the first glimpses of patch 2.4 and the continuing IGE/Affinity Media saga. Not sure what we're talking about? Time to catch up on the latest: Legal files reveal the connection between gold-sellers IGE and Thottbot/Wowhead/Allakhazam owner Affinity Media. (Or do they?) We get our first peak at patch 2.4 with the news that models for Brutalicus, a boss from the Sunwell Plateau, are already in the game's data files. Blood Sport leads you on the road to Arena success by explaining the ins and outs of the various Arena maps. This week's Well Fed Buff walks you through making Night Dragon's Breath Dip -- just in time for your weekend gaming session! Totem Talk covers leveling your Shaman to 60 -- to Outland, and beyond! Damion Schubert (sort of) defends raid mechanics in World of Warcraft.
