September 2010

Simple Pleasures

stargrace September 7, 2010 2Comments

The warlock is starting to look pretty cool, and that’s always fun. I decided to change my talents around once more, and now have a destruction spec that seems to be working quite a bit. By ‘working’ I mean my AoE dps dropped slightly from my previous build – but my single target dps rose from 1.5 to 3-4k which was a vast improvement, especially since when I’m doing random heroics I’m never quite sure which dungeon I’ll get and there are some that have significantly less AoE needs then others.

It took me a while to learn the spec, and how to optimize it. It also allows me to use my imp minion, which doesn’t cost any shards, and I’m noticing that I don’t run out nearly as fast which is great.

Another milestone reached, I broke 4k GS for the first time ever. No, GS doesn’t mean everything and I’m not one of those players that shun people who have a lower GS, but it meant that I’ve been working really hard at getting upgrades, and succeeding. I believe I’m standing at 4166 exactly. A great deal of this was due to the fact that I managed to gain enough emblems to purchase my T9 robe, which also gives me my four set bonus. I’m sporting the robe, pants, gloves, and shoulders. I’m saving up emblems now for the 75 emblem hat since it comes with a meta slot and is far superior to the previous set.

When I get tired of grinding dungeons (I do anywhere from 5-10 a day it seems) I find random achievements to work on. My latest stint has me working on obtaining keys for various zones (most no longer require these keys, or if they do you can use a blacksmith made key and gain entry just the same). I enjoy working on these achievements, they’re fun and give me little unique features for my characters to enjoy.

I also did Gnomeregan for the first time on the warlock (yes, I’ve been there with other characters) and probably had more fun then was due blowing up gnomes. I also obtained my first title – the patient. This was awarded from grouping with 50 other random people in LFD, which is something that is difficult for me to gain since 90% of the time I’m running dungeons with 1-4 guild mates. I’m eager to reach 100, and gain a new pet (perky pug!) which is something else I’ve taken to collecting.

WoW is certainly not the most difficult game out there to play, but I find it fun in its simplicity. It’s very nice to be able to log in for an hour and feel as though I’ve actually accomplished something. I enjoy the look of the game quite a bit (though there are plenty who do not) and things are going relatively well. It’s nice to be enjoying the game on a very basic level, and I’m really looking forward to Cataclysm.

Happy gaming, no matter where you find yourself.

Halls of Reflection

stargrace September 5, 2010 3Comments

I was in the mood to play my priest yesterday. Determined not to let the game get the better of me, I set out with Manos to Heroic: The Culling of Stratholme and got the last few emblems I needed to purchase my (heal spec) gloves. That’s one piece down. Later on once my guild mates had set out to do their own thing, I decided I’d queue up for a random normal mode dungeon.

I was placed in Halls of Reflection, the single zone I’ve never done before. I vowed to myself that I wasn’t going to worry, and told the group that I’d never been here. The tank admitted that they’d never tanked it before (but had at least been) and a dps mentioned they were also new. I had no reason to worry. The group kindly explained what we would be up against, and how we had to hide for the first portion until waves started spawning. They instructed me to conserve my mana, and that it would be a long fight. They were right.

The first rounds went by flawlessly. No deaths, everything was great. It was a little hectic for me, I recently switched to a new spec on the priest (more about that later) and was still getting used to it. Then we made our way to the portion where you’ve got to escape from the Lich King. This involves running up to huge ice walls, dpsing encounters as fast as you possibly can, while an NPC brings down that ice wall, and making sure you get to the next section before the Lich King touches you or you’ll die.

Hectic didn’t even begin to describe this event. On the very last encounter two dps classes died because the tank couldn’t manage the aggro (they said as much in group) but by that time we had already beaten the zone. I was praised for my healing and practically did a jig in my chair.

Not only that, but I won a very nice mace, the Bone Golem Scapula. The group may not have been the most proficient, and half of us didn’t have a clue what we were doing, but they were understanding, and kind. Two things I would LOVE to see more of in this game.

Now earlier in the day, on my warlock, a shaman completely decked out in raid gear claimed that he was carrying everyone in the group because not only was he the healer, but he was parsing the highest in the group. He of course had to let us all know. I spoke up and said that I hardly considered that him carrying us. The zone was one of the easier heroics, and he was full of attitude. So the next encounter he decided not to heal at all. The tank died, and me second with aggro. Then he laughed and decided to provoke myself and the tank further. Both of us wished the group well, and left. There’s no reason to stick around and subject oneself to that sort of attitude. We were right at the final boss, but it simply was not worth it for me to continue on. Why on earth someone had to be so rude I’ve no idea, but that is exactly the sort of thing that makes me not want to group.

I think I’m developing a tougher skin when it comes to LFD. I can tune people out, and help when required. As I mentioned above I changed my priest spec, I went from holy to discipline and it seems to suit my play style MUCH better. I am much better at managing my mana, and that was always the main issue I had. I’m pleased with my decision to swap out, I still have a shadow spec for when I’m out questing as well.So far, so good.

Happy gaming no matter where you find yourself!

Explaining Yourself

stargrace September 4, 2010 9Comments

Dril made a really good point in his comments yesterday – I am using a warlock build that is optimized for AoE damage, and it’s affliction / demonology based 38/33/0 which is for most an ‘odd’ build. Typically people will either put at least 51 in affliction, or go the other way and put at least 51 in destruction. The important part is that this spec works for me, and it works really well. No, I don’t compare to raid geared people but they also don’t completely blow me away either. I’ve already had to justify my play style once and I find it really amusing. Someone in an instance asked me why I was bothering to use my mana drain spell because it ‘does nothing’ to the mob. Well, I was at 0 mana, and the healer was almost out of power, so instead of siphoning my health away and creating more of an issue I slapped some dots on the mob and mana drained. They laughed at me for it.

Last I checked, I’m the one who pays for my account, and thus I’ll play however I want. There’s nothing people seem to want to do more in WoW then tell you how to play your class because of COURSE they can play it better then you. One person told me in a random regular dungeon (before level 80) that I was a fool for rolling on an item with mana regen on it (even though they, the healer, already had said item. I rolled with a mage and if myself or the mage had not rolled on it the item would have went for greed). Their comment stuck with me so much that I stopped rolling on everything all together, even if it was an upgrade. You can NOT let other people tell you how to play the game.

I did a lot of instances yesterday. I completed Heroic Nexus, Gundrak, The Violet Hold, Halls of Stone, Trial of the Champion, and Halls of Lightning. I obtained enough shards to purchase a really nice wand, as well as a piece of set gear – Gul’dan’s Gloves of Conquest. I have almost 300 stone keeper’s shards, and I’m working towards my second piece of gear which will either be a robe or pants. I’m thinking pants since mine are quite abysmal. It’s 50 shards for the pants, and the robe. 30 for the shoulders I want which will give me my four set bonus which is not too bad. The helm I’ll be getting from another merchant, for 75 shards (it has a meta slot, but no set bonus). Instances are finally not stressful for me as a warlock instead of a priest. I feel like I’ve found a great class that suits my play style, and I’m really enjoying myself.

I managed to work on my engineering some yesterday as well, and it’s sitting at a comfortable 281. My mining still has quite a ways to go, 101 and I haven’t bothered to work on it. It’s nice to be out of the level grind, and work on things at a slower pace, and goofy achievements.

I hope everyone enjoys their long weekend! Happy gaming no matter where you find yourself.