May 2010

Putting the Vote Up

stargrace May 19, 2010 3Comments

As I’ve already said before, I’m not a huge fan of the LFD tool. Don’t get me wrong, I actually think it’s an amazing tool, and I am thankful players have the option to make use of it. Personally, I can only do so many instances before I need a break. Perhaps this is because I play a priest (I almost wish I were a paladin) and I find learning 10+ new instances in a single evening very stressful to me. Once I’ve gone through a zone at least I know what to expect, and what I should be on the look out for. Entering a new instance can be incredibly frustrating, and then to follow that up with another (new) frustrating instance is something that I can’t do too many times in a row.

I like doing dungeons but after doing one or two that I’ve never been to before I like to fall back on the dungeons that I know how to prepare for. Ones I know how to adjust my healing for. Examples of this are the bombers in Blood Furnace and the encounter that causes all of your spells to take an exceptionally long time to cast in Mana-Tombs. Sure I could potentially scope out every single instance ahead of time and try to learn all of the encounters before I enter them – but that’s really not my idea of fun.

Last night I wanted to kick back a little, so I set the dungeon tool to Scholomance. Yes, I realize that at level 65 the zone isn’t going to offer up very many goodies, but it was a dungeon that I had never been to before (nor had Manos, warrior from guild) and I really wanted the achievement. The high level 50 characters we were with seemed incredibly excited that they had gotten into the group, and I was happy for that.

The one down side was a rogue in the group. I’ve never actually had to vote anyone OUT of a group before (nor have I been voted out, though I’m sure it will come eventually) but this one player was.. lets call them “special” – special in the way that they thought they were the tank, pulled everything, swore constantly, and were discussing Glee in depth even though no one was answering (because we had an entire room pulled on us). After they pulled the named (and almost died) I said that if they were going to do that again (this was not my first warning) I wouldn’t be healing them. I don’t heal stupidity. Sure that seems cruel but if I waste my mana healing someone who is obviously playing to the detriment of the group, it’s my fault. I discussed in guild whether or not we should consider putting a vote up to remove the player from group (after another room was pulled on us) and before I could come to a conclusion a 3rd member in the party made the decision for me.

Vote was cast, rogue was removed.

A warrior joined up and we completed the zone without further incident, and I got my achievement. I also managed to inch my way to level 66 – which means only four more levels to go before I can focus on Wrath of the Lich King. One thing I find a little odd. I can do the daily cooking quests now for Wrath, but I have to be level 70 before I do them for Burning Crusade. Ah well.

Also – thank you to those who left comments about AddOns yesterday. Anyone have a suggestion for a unit frame AddOn? I really dislike the circular ones (group and target) that we’re given by default. I think I’m set for everything else (so far). I picked up Grid, and Clique, and I’ve got GatherMate (which I adore) and a few others. If you can think of anything else I could benefit from please don’t hesitate to let me know in comments!

Happy gaming no matter where you find yourself.

Lets Talk AddOns

stargrace May 18, 2010 8Comments

Everyone has their favorite AddOn to use in World of Warcraft, and since I’m still relatively new to the game I don’t really have the faintest idea on which are ‘essential’ to get. So let me start this post off by saying that if you’ve got an addon suggestion for me by all  means leave a comment below so that I can check it out. I play a priest if that makes any difference.

I don’t use too many addons and those I do use don’t really affect the game per say but add to it. I do use recount for my own personal tracking system but it’s not something I ever put into group or brag about to others. I use gearscore but again this is for my own personal knowledge and not because I want to belittle others. I want to improve myself, and these tools allow me to do that. I also use a hotkey mod called dominos just to allow me to cust0mize my UI layout, I like keys in a certain place. For anyone who knows me you’ll know I am a huge fan of lists and keeping track of things both in game and out. Yesterday I installed a mod that allows me to scan my current profession recipes and lists all of the recipes that I do not own, and where they come from. This mod is probably my favorite, and one I’ll end up using the most. I think it’s incredible, and also just a lot of fun. On that same hand I installed fishing buddy, which allows me to track which fish I have obtained, and where they came from. I learned yesterday that fishing is actually a lot more complicated then I would have once thought. It was a refreshing revelation.

Aside from exploring Mana-Tombs for the first time, I also inched my enchanting to 350 – which means I trained for Grand Master enchanting. That’s right, for the first time ever I have enchanting and tailoring at a Grand Master level. I am also fairly close to grand master fishing, although the skill ups are so far and few between it will take a few hours / days to reach the goal. My cooking is already grand master, and I imagine one of these days I’ll work first aid up there just so that I can have all three secondary professions. I love doing daily missions, even though so far I have only found the cooking one in Dalaran. Once I reach level 70 I’ll be able to do other cooking dailies.

I’m still having a lot of fun in game, despite my burn out on EQ2 right now I know I’ll return as soon as that passes. In the mean time, I’m having a lot of fun in WoW, and I’m happy for that. Safe travels, and happy gaming no matter where you find yourself.

Mana-Tombs and other Instances

stargrace May 16, 2010 1Comment

Inching my way up through the 60’s is pretty slow, but it’s also due to my reluctance to use the LFD tool too much. Number one, I don’t want to get burnt out from running dungeons, and number two since I play a heal spec’d priest these dungeons can be VERY FRUSTRATING. I’ve been working on smaller things I can do to improve my healing without using addons that do the healing (and curing) for me. We all know they exist but that’s not what I’m interested in, I want to actually play the game.

Yesterday was my first time through Mana-Tombs, and (what little I managed to see of it when I wasn’t massively healing everyone and watching those health bars) any new zones is incredibly difficult for me the first time around because I’m never sure exactly what to expect. This zone in particular was more annoying (each zone has something annoying about it) due to some Terrors that like to fear, and dots I have to constantly cure, as well as mana drains. I’ve been using oils on my weapon for mana regen, as well as stocking up on mana potions when ever I can, and of course drinking in between pulls. So far it’s been going fairly well. Since my return to WoW I think we’ve only actually wiped once or twice, and a few people have died for whatever reason (like standing in the fire of a dragon). My most difficult challenge so far has been trying to keep people aside from the tank alive. What I mean is, typically the group set up is tank (warrior Manos), and a combination of DK / Paladin / Mages. Then the plate wearing dpsers think they can tank, and run off and pull, or taunt, or do something else to give themselves agro at the same time as the actual tank. Unlike EQ2 where I have three single target heals and two group heals as well as two emergency heals, I have ONE group heal (that takes an incredibly long time to cast) and a selection of single target heals as well as wards and death preventions.

I lost out on a roll for a pair of really nice boots, but at least there were no deaths, and I got to see a new zone. I find dungeons much more stressful higher level but they also have a lot less rude people in them (or so has been my experience so far). I tend to get instances with people I have already grouped with before, and that also helps me prepare to heal them. Healing in different MMOs may not be that drastically different, but finding out how to work everything extra to your advantage is and that’s what keeps me playing them.