World of Warcraft

[I'm Murrin]

The bars are from the mod Elkano's Buff Bars. As for range on the totems, I don't really know. I just noticed on the screenshot that I only had one of them up there.


Another topic, I'm questing through Grizzly Hills right now, and I'm wondering what our new allies will think of the quests there come Cataclysm:

Worgen. Blasted, Light-forsaken, filth-ridden worgen.

It's time we showed the locals what us civilized folk do with beasts like them.

[matrixman]

I'm 3/4 of the way through this beast of a thread, and I'm still cracking up over luci's "orifice despot" phrase.

Nothing to see here, carry on...

[Chrysalis]

Does this mean once you reach the end you will join?

[CovenantJr]

The weird thing about MMORPGs is they're a real time-devouring phenomenon - yet also really really boring.

[matrixman]

Does this mean once you reach the end you will join?

Even if I were willing, there is the problem of the subscription fee, as I do not use a credit card. That and the thought of having to pay continuing fees does irk me.

The weird thing about MMORPGs is they're a real time-devouring phenomenon - yet also really really boring.

Are you referring to the "grinding" aspect of quests? If so, I would agree. From what I've read here, WoW has all manner of interesting things you can do aside from the main quest, whatever that is. But like commercials say, "personal experience may vary." Given my n00b status and thus my character's limited value to any company - that and I don't care to be a clumsy burden to any party - I'd want to play the game solo for a while anyway, to get used to the mechanics.

[lucimay]

The weird thing about MMORPGs is they're a real time-devouring phenomenon - yet also really really boring.

yes, it's true, they are time-consuming. at least wow is. but i don't find it boring by any stretch of the imagination. else i wouldn't spend so much time there ingame.

as i've said before, half the fun of the game for me is the social aspect.
our guild has a vent server and most of the time i'm hooked in there
chatting and guffawing with my friends. okay the gear talk does get a bit
obsessive, in fact, wow is a game for obsessives. one of our guys is obsessed with getting all his faction reps to exhalted. another is obsessed with getting all the rare mounts in the game. another is obsessed with being able to out-dps our guild leader. several guildies are obsessed with having toons of every race and class (Creator!! lol!! the big Altaholic!)

in wow, there's an obsession for everyone!! but honestly, it's the social aspect that keeps me playing. i love the people in our guild and the friends i've made on the game and i enjoy spending time with them.
and look, i've got a LOT of time on my hands right now so... i'm having fun. isn't that the point? to have fun?

so, say what you will about it, cov, we're having fun.

[I'm Murrin]

Even if I were willing, there is the problem of the subscription fee, as I do not use a credit card. That and the thought of having to pay continuing fees does irk me.

That was the main thing putting me off from starting, in the end I'm an addictive perosnality and I caved by getting into the free trial. As for the credit card thing, I only have a debit card they don't accept, so I pay through Paypal.

[lucimay]

The weird thing about MMORPGs is they're a real time-devouring phenomenon - yet also really really boring.

Are you referring to the "grinding" aspect of quests? If so, I would agree. From what I've read here, WoW has all manner of interesting things you can do aside from the main quest, whatever that is. But like commercials say, "personal experience may vary." Given my n00b status and thus my character's limited value to any company - that and I don't care to be a clumsy burden to any party - I'd want to play the game solo for a while anyway, to get used to the mechanics.

oh, sorry to double post but we posted at the same time mm, and i want to address this.

most people do solo level. unless of course you've got a buddy that is leveling a toon at the same time in the same area and you *want* to level together.

there are group quests which you can't (unless you're a death knight or a paladin! lol!!) solo tho, and that is where the guild comes in. ya just holler in guild chat for some help and someone will come and help you.
also, higher level guildies can "bash" you through low level instances for fast experience points and gear.

but for the most part, you end up leveling alone and chatting in guild chat while you do it.

also, our guild leaders, Kelleta and Dray, and Sorus, Murrin, and several other guildies are incredible sources of information regarding the mechanics of the game, i.e. gear, dungeons, shot rotations, talent specs, etc. as they have all been playing a long time and know the ins and outs of pretty much any class and race you can play in the game!

honestly we're having fun!

[CovenantJr]

You know the really boring bits of normal RPGs, where you have to just trudge around killing stuff over and over in order to make your character(s) strong enough to proceed? That's an MMORPG. A whole, endless game of that. There are usually other things to do besides fight, but they're really just variations on the same theme.

I can see why the social element would be appealing, and that might even work since there are already loads of Watchers playing WoW. But I played one MMO for several hours a day, almost every day for six months, and I met no-one. Generally, people don't want anything to do with you if you're a lower level than they are, and if you're a higher level they just want you to powerlevel them or give them good stuff.

The one exception is the very first MMO I played, where I did already know someone. Unfortunately, as I once explained to Chrysalis, this resulted in me being hunted by people much stronger than me, since my friend had made so many enemies by being leader of a confrontationally-inclined guild. No-one could take her, so once they realised I knew her they kept coming after me.

[Chrysalis]

The one exception is the very first MMO I played, where I did already know someone. Unfortunately, as I once explained to Chrysalis, this resulted in me being hunted by people much stronger than me, since my friend had made so many enemies by being leader of a confrontationally-inclined guild. No-one could take her, so once they realised I knew her they kept coming after me.

See on the flip side with knowing us we would make sure that didn't happen. Plus in order to be killed by other players on our server you actually have to flag yourself - so any deaths will be your own fault

Of course, if its just the social aspect of it you are always welcome in vent - most of the time the conversation isn't game related - there is only so much that can be said about gear and epic mount drops that don't happen!

Which reminds me, have you decided when you are heading down to London yet?

[I'm Murrin]

For the ideal experience, you'd have to wait just under a year and start playing with the release of the next expansion pack, Cataclysm. Blizzard are completely redesigning the levelling experience from level 1-60, to make it more enjoyable than the old classic WoW stuff that is a bit dated and poorly organised by current standards.

[matrixman]

Crap, does that mean all the notes and nuggets of wisdom I've copied off Sorus, Nav and you will be rendered moot?

(Just want to make sure I've done my homework, in case I ever do play.)

Cov, you have my sympathy. We put up with enough BS in the real world, we don't need it when we go home to relax with a game.

I played one MMO for several hours a day, almost every day for six months, and I met no-one. Generally, people don't want anything to do with you if you're a lower level than they are, and if you're a higher level they just want you to powerlevel them or give them good stuff.

Some posts have mentioned those kinds of shenanigans in WoW as well. I take it that's a rule of thumb in such games. I'd be discouraged too if I paid for a game, only to wind up wandering alone in a hostile world for much of the time with little interaction. (Wait a minute, that sounds like real life.)

[Sorus]

I didn't know anyone when I first started playing. Didn't join a guild until my first character was 40. Went solo for the most part, only grouped with people when I had to. Gradually met people and quested with them if they were online.

It's a decent server. Yeah, there are jerks and idiots but they're the minority. I don't run with the kinds of people who look down on 'noobs'. We were all one once. We're not gonna let you wander alone in a hostile world. It's fine if you want to wander alone, but if you need help someone will be there.

As to the grinding, there's a fair amount. Sometimes it gets tedious. But there's always stuff to do, no matter what it is you enjoy doing. If you get bored with something, you can go and do something different.

Get the free trial and come hang out with us for 10 days.

Resistance is futile.

[Sorus]

Flight form + blue lady disguise =

[I'm Murrin]

Latest PTR build: Battlegrounds grant arena points.
Edit: This was corrected, only the Battleground daily quest will grant points (25).

Edit: Oh, my.

Lay on Hands: This ability now places Forbearance on the target and cannot be used on a target with Forbearance.

Ouch. Big, big ouch.

[I'm Murrin]

Detailed, informative thread on how the Faction Champions generate threat.

maintankadin.failsafedesign.com/forum/index.php?f=36&t=26639&rb_v=viewtopic

The gist of it is, melee will attack the person with the lowest armor and hp (both calculated in the moment, not your max or base stats) in close proximity. Casters use Resistance (to their own school) and hp, rather than armor. Healers just focus the target with lowest absolute health.

People who tend to find themselves focused a lto can use indestructible potions and resistance flasks to reduce their chance of being targetted.

[Sorus]

That's interesting. Makes more sense now why my warlock is such a magnet.

[I'm Murrin]

Best PvP moment to date: Eye of the Storm. I've just capped Draenei Ruins, cementing the Alliance's lead and guaranteeing our win within 2 minutes. At this point, a Horde Rogue picks up the flag.

From my spot defending DR, I spot him running for BElf tower, at 5% health. There are some Alliance at the north side of BElf Tower fighting, but not between him and the cap.

I go for it. He's halfway there; I mount up, cross the bridge, run up the side ramp on BT, and just as the orde there start to turn on me, I hit the Rogue with Hammer of Wrath.

Dead three steps from capping. I picked up the flag and took it back to DR for the win.

I got more Honor that match than anyone else, 999.

[lucimay]

niiiiiiice!

[Sorus]

Blue response to folks who are having trouble dual-boxing on one machine:

This is a known issue that we are working on correcting. In the mean time you can open up the WoW folder and use wow.exe to start a 2nd game client.