WoW

Mana-Tombs and other Instances

stargrace May 16, 2010 1 Comment

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.

Reaching 60 in World of Warcraft (finally)

stargrace January 11, 2010 5 Comments

This weekend was pretty productive when it came to MMOs, and I had a great time which is always an added bonus. It started off with me doing some dungeon runs in world of warcraft on my priest. I’ve been pretty eager to reach level 60 (for obvious reasons) but even before that I was trying to inch my way to 58 so that I could finally experience some new zones and all of this fantastic gear I kept hearing about. Dungeons are pretty stressful to me, even though I’ve been playing healers for quite some time. I have no idea why, I don’t find myself stressing nearly so much in EQ2, and I’m not sure why I care so much in games about how well I’m doing. I mean, it’s supposed to be a game, right?

Dire Maul was relaxed and easy, but then I headed to another zone (pictured above) and while the group started out wonderful (seemingly) with a rogue who was pointing us in ‘all the right places’ the truth of the matter is that they were there for one particular kill. So they lead us to that kill (ignoring the vast majority of the zone) and when their item didn’t drop they bailed on the group. None of us had been there before and the experience quickly turned frustrating. We stuck with it and managed to complete the zone after a few mishaps, but it was still a sour experience for me personally. I’m still trying to find my ‘niche’ as a healer, it’s difficult when the groups are so much different then what I’m used to. in EQ2, things are orderly, and I have a lot of group heals for the times when they are not. In WoW I don’t have nearly the same affect with my group heals, and it seems like everyone is constantly running off on their own and pulling mobs towards the group. So instead of a group with one tank, I have four tanks to keep healed at the same time, and while normally I’m a fairly good judge on my tank and I can ‘tell’ almost like a 6th sense when I need to cast a heal in order to prevent a death, in WoW I find that a lot harder to judge. I’m sure it will come with time, and maybe I’m being too hard on myself, but I pride myself on playing my characters very well, and having people die in a group (be it their fault or mine) is not something I enjoy.

After two instance runs myself and Manos (troll warrior) were ready to head to that magical portal that would take us to better gear upgrades – and more levels. I was excited. Sure, burning crusade is an old expansion now, but I have never stepped into the zone, despite having owned it for a few years.

Well, they certainly weren’t kidding about the gear upgrades. It was great. Everything was an upgrade. In a few hours we both managed to inch our way to level 60 – my highest level character in all my years of playing.

Of course WoW wasn’t the only game I played this weekend, and I’ll make sure to post about those other experiences in my next post this morning. It was still a fantastic milestone for me to reach, and I’m quite happy about it. Now I just need to work on my tailoring and enchanting, earn some more cash for mounts (I decided to dual spec the priest in a dps and heal spec, so I’m quite broke) and I’ll be set.

I hope everyone else had a fantastic weekend no matter where they found themselves, and happy gaming!

A Use for my Death Knight

stargrace December 30, 2009 3 Comments

I’ve been trying to not play my new Death Knight that much, because I don’t want to fall away from my 56 priest ‘main’ – but there’s been one very appealing aspect to this character that I just can’t pull myself away from. One thing I like to do on ‘quiet days’ is farm. Going through old instances and just gathering all the greens I can, silks, craft supplies. Well, as it turns out, Death Knights are amazing at this. Since you start at level 55 you don’t have any of the lower level achievements (dungeons specifically) to your name. I decided to go up the list and complete every one that I could, while farming for craft supplies at the same time.

I didn’t do anything amazing by anyone else’ standards, but because this is a completely new experience to me, it was not only fun, but very profitable. I made about 300g just by goofing around, and raised my tailoring and enchanting by a good amount (profits the main, which is always a good thing). This also allows me to pass down gear to my other characters, and while it’s no wear near as good as the twink gear that’s out there now, not EVERYONE is end game and able to do that sort of thing, so I feel good about it.

I currently have 5 WoW characters, I have my 56 priest (tailor / enchanter), 40 hunter (skinner / miner), 40 Shaman (Herbalism / Alchemist), 31 mage (Jeweler / miner) and my 58 Death Knight. On Ravenholdt at least. I also have a handful of characters on Uther (Alliance rather then Horde). It’s a nice selection to keep me busy, and allow me to craft with each of them.

This holiday season I’ve drifted a little from my ‘usual’ games, but I expect that in 2010 I’ll wander back. After all, everyone needs a break some times.

In the mean time, happy gaming no matter where you find yourself!

My First Death Knight Adventures

stargrace December 27, 2009 4 Comments

Alright, I realize that I haven’t written for a few days but it’s been EXCEPTIONALLY busy this year as far as holidays go. Thankfully I have some quiet time now, and I’ll be spending a few days at home. I’ve got other posts scheduled to talk about all of the holiday goodness, and games I enjoyed in 2009 and what not. But for now before my head hits the keyboard I’m going to write about my first experience with the Death Knight in World of Warcraft.

First of all, it was a huge milestone for me to even reach level 55 on my priest main. I’ve had the character for four years now and never managed to actually play the game longer then a month at a time to get anywhere. Then I’d start up again (most of the time with a new alt) and manage to just barely hit 50 and I’d stop playing. Plus, I didn’t own Wrath of the Lich King. Now I do.

After hitting level 55 I of course decided to make a Death knight. It sort of goes hand in hand, especially if you’ve never played one before and this is the furthest you’ve ever gotten in the game. It was awesome, I was happily going along doing the story line, learning things about the lore, and a few new (to me) quests came up that I really liked. Especially the almost-end when I got to ride a huge dragon around and blow things up. That was neat.

Then I got thinking about it.

It wasn’t so neat after all. Here I was, a few hours old, my gear is all blues, I have a mount, lots of bags, flight paths all over the place, and numerous other things that I don’t even have on my main yet. That’s where I started having a problem. My actual main is no where near as good as this level 55 Death knight I just created today. The only thing my main has above and beyond this Death Knight aside from some achievements, is her crafting.

I really wish there had of been an option for those non-DK classes to at least complete the same quests. Not only is my Death Knight pretty well geared – she’s level 58, three levels higher then my main, and it took barely any effort to get there. Of course, I love my priest and I have every intention of going back to her but how do you fight that sort of pull?

It was a very well done script, and I had a lot of fun doing it. The atmosphere was fantastic, the story intense, and the music outstanding. Everything I love about games came through. There were barely any other people around which always makes my leveling easier and now I just wish I could have experienced all of that on my actual character rather then (yet another) alt.

Why not give everyone the choice (once they’ve reached level 55 as that’s the starting level to create a Death Knight) to skip ahead in levels if they want it (and once they’ve reached 55 on one character ‘naturally’) if they’re going to allow one specific class to do it? Why not create (yes, I realize it would take a lot of time and work) a separate story line that some how ties in the Death Knights to ‘everyone else’ and give them the option to help out – gaining levels and equipment that’s just as nice. A choice for players of course.

Anyhow, that’s my rant. Fun, but made me feel like I’d put all that effort into my main for nothing. Hopefully I’ll be back to playing her soon, although I can certainly see why the Death Knights are so awesome.

Happy Gaming!