A Little Knowledge is a Dangerous Thing in the Paws of Kittys

Yeah, I know, it’s crazy. Suddenly my Druid thinks she knows math which when you think about it is impossible. I am math challenged, always have been so I think it unlikely that in Azeroth there’d be any change. So really she has no idea what she’s doing. Silly cat.

I knew this would happen. I should never have downloaded that DPS meter. I don’t use many addons. I always had a threat meter to keep from rudely pulling aggro but that’s about it. I just thought it would be informative and to make sure I wasn’t being the cause of any problems. I really didn’t know it would snowball into the cat from hell.

I play for fun; I’m not competitive so a good group for me has always been based on whether it was fun and whether the objective died. That’s about it. Dying a few times never bothered me as long as everyone remained pleasant. I’m kind of an underachiever of WoW which has always been okay with me.

But the meter may have created a monster … a scary monster cat. I was intrigued by the huge range my DPS had. It varied from 7k to 21k, why was that? Could I do better, what should I do? I started thinking stuff like that, yeah, really crucial to get those holiday apothecaries down real fast to frisk ‘em for the Love Rocket. And I have little time to figure it out, I mean the holiday will be over soon and then I’m looking at waiting until the ice stone has melted for the next holiday boss.

So the last time I queued I was horrified with myself afterwards. I usually try not to take unnecessary damage. I’m used to being solo so I never take for granted any healing I may get. I try not to stand in dangerous stuff. I use Barkskin and other druidy spells as needed. But the last time I queued? I ran in there like an axe murderer on meth. I ignored stuff on the ground, didn’t pay attention to my health, just flailed madly about trying to bite everyone on the rear end as fast as I could. I heard a voice in my head say, “Ah, It’s okay, the healer will keep you safe! Rip, shred, shred, shred, faster, faster, aarrggh, I’m the KITTY OF DOOM , FEAR ME AND DIE!”

And as it turned out everything was fine because there was a Mage who killed them all in, I swear under a minute. But I had become the stereotypical rude, inconsiderate dps. Like almost overnight. Because I was so taken with my damage meter. I was ashamed. I quickly logged out and removed the damage meter. I’m not even keeping it for the rest of the holiday even though it was fun. I’m going to have to go cold turkey. I hope the regular Druid returns. I guess I’m not as uncompetitive as I thought. Who knew?

Pssst … Meme the Sixth, past it on!

I happened to be watching Twitter when I saw that Jaded Alt had a new post up. Oh good, I went to see what Windsoar’s post was about and she had received a meme from Gnomeaggedon. It was about one of my favorite things! Screen shots.

The challenge is to open your sixth sub-folder in your screenshot folder and pick your sixth image to share. Windsoar’s screen shot is a beautiful tree action shot. I hoped, hoped, my sixth would be a good one.

I have no idea why I took this one, maybe I just wanted a reminder of Skettis because I was moving out to fight in Northrend. I’m just glad it wasn’t one of my “accidental shots” that I can’t bare to get rid of. I still can’t figure out how I manage to accidentally hit the Prtsc key but I must. They are kind of like those shots on my digital camera of feet or lampshades.

So that’s mine now tag, you’re it!

Sugar & Blood

The Harpy’s Nest

Effraeti’s RP

Bubbles of Mischief

Moonkin Journeys

WoW Rare Spawns

Thanks Windsoar, I’m looking forward to seeing what everyone finds in their sixth of sixth!

Follow the Light …

Yeah … embarrassing. I was going to pretend I never mentioned trying the no-death Ironman and all. Maybe no one would notice. But Ironsally found out about my attempt and she said I have to tell so here goes.

What can I say, I snapped. Perhaps there should be some sort of psychological testing done before you attempt a no-death challenge.  I logged back in with the intention of continuing on my no-death journey. Up next, the Brackwell Pumpkin Patch for the quest Manhunt. The place is crawling with Defias Brotherhood. Old Morgan the Collector is holed up in that house along with Erlan Drudgemoor and Surena Caledon.

I hate being careful, being careful was driving me crazy; it’s my only explanation for what came next. Poor little Ironadilla suddenly dismissed her demon and shrieked a battle cry, managed to aggro three of the Defias outside and then ran into the house where Morgan and his dastardly companions awaited! After collecting six foes she ran outside to aggro as many more as possible … death by Defias had never felt so good.

It’s probably for the best, it’s clear I’m not cut out for a no-death anything … well … except for real life; I’m doing okay there so far. So Insane WoW Ironman Challengers, I salute you. Good luck to you all, you’re made of sterner stuff than I am. I’m not doing that again. If I undertake another challenge it will be the Psynister Vrykerion WoW Ironman Challenge where you can feel free to die as much as you like. I even have a Druid doing that, she’s level 20 and oddly has no deaths yet, probably because I wasn’t trying to be careful. I wanted to see if a melee class could complete the challenge. I quit when the 4.3 nerfs came out because it was no longer the same challenge, but if I feel challengey I think I’ll continue her on her journey.

The relief I felt on deleting poor Ironadilla was immense. I felt giddy with joy. Free at last to work on the really important stuff like doing something about my poor Warlock’s ugly belt.

It’s a temporary fix but look at her; I think she looks happier don’t you? I continued on my quest for the elusive Love Rocket and getting enough charms for my second Swift Lovebird, life was good again in Azeroth. I admit I feel a little guilty about the elation her death brought me and at the same time I’m thrilled to have freed up my last character slot on Fenris for my Panda. All I can say is I’m sorry little Ironadilla, we hardly knew you.

R.I.P. you little Gnome, follow the light.

Be Afraid … be very Afraid

Yeah … scary. I may not be here for a while or I might be right back. More likely right back, because I am NOT a careful person and I am NOT a patience one either. But I can’t resist giving this a try. I keep reading about the new Insane Ironman Challenge and wondering what the no-death component would be like.

So anyway, there she is, another Warlock. She’s level 10 right now and has already come within an inch of losing her life once. I doubt she’ll last too long. I’m not sure about the whole Gnome thing anyway, I’m pretty sure she’s going to get ambushed by something cause she can’t even see over the shrubbery. Apparently Blizzard doesn’t give her much of a chance either as she doesn’t show up in the armory. Ironsally knows nothing about this, I’m doing it on the sly, so shhhhh, don’t say anything or she’ll make my life unbearable.

I’m a little jumpy right now.

Already I’m drawn to cliffs and tall buildings where she MIGHT … oops … take a deathly fall, it’s all the stress … I don’t know if I can take it. The whole no talent, no decent clothes thing is obviously fine, no problem. It’s the dying thing. I think I’d be just as stressed if she were a normal character wearing designer gear. I am so paranoid now. My husband walked in the room and startled me and I thought, “OMG I’M GOING TO DIE!” I may have screamed it as he looked a bit startled too.

I feel like I’m in a psychological thriller and I’m just waiting for Jack Nicholson’s head to break through the wall at the Inn in Goldshire. Watch this, see her? THAT IS EXACTLY how I feel right now.

And I’m not sure why I’m so afraid, I had a Shadow Priest that got to level 80 with only seven deaths and I was playing normally. I think it’s the suspense. I don’t see this going well at all. I keep having the nearly overwhelming urge to run into a group of Murlocs and commit Murloc suicide. MUST NOT GIVE IN. MUST BE STRONG.

It’s going to take forever to get to level 20. I can only play about three bars and then I’m hyperventilating and I have to log off her and play my Druid to regain my calm.

WHAT’S THAT!!!!! I HEARD SOMETHING!! WHAT’S THAT SOUND!!! DID YOU HEAR THAT!!! SSSCCCRREEEAMMMMMMMM!!!!!

Oh … sorry … just the mailman.

Echoes of Expansions Past

My first character grew up on Teldrassil, that’s where it all started, beautiful Shadowglen. Yesterday my husband brought work home and was on the computer next to me all day. To keep him “company” I toured Azeroth, yeah what a peach I am, such hard work!

I don’t know what caused the nostalgia trip but yesterday I had such a heavy dose of it. I had read Big Bear Butt’s post about his son’s adventures before logging in and my Druid visited her home town of Darnassus. The music in Teldrassil always evokes memories of ago.

It was like there was some strange harmonic yesterday. Almost everything that happened brought memories of my WoW beginnings. I was buffed by a passing stranger, this brought back memories of running around questing when you couldn’t move two feet without receiving a buff. Everyone was so proud of their newfound skills. I remembered that excitement when I saw my first race other than a Night Elf. I think it was in Darkshore, I was in awe of this intrepid adventurer who had made it to our shores. I couldn’t even begin to imagine what dangers they’d braved to get there.

I remember my Hunter traveling through Ashenvale, probably for a holiday event. She was a fresh level 60 and received a salute from a fellow traveler. I remember the awe she felt back when she was my only character and she encountered her first Warlock on their fiery steed. And I mean the Xorothian Dreadsteed, to say I was impressed is an understatement.

My Forsaken Warlock was questing in Sholazar Basin yesterday. These zones are usually pretty dead on my server.  She was doing the quest Post-partum Aggression, and doing rather poorly at that, ‘bout to die because I stupidly thought that I could handle typing in chat and running around on Stompy at the same time … which I SO CAN’T.

As she’s about to draw her dying or undying breath in this case, down swoops a Hunter to the rescue who saves her bacon. It brought back so many memories of Azeroth past. The bad part was I was so shocked by the intervention, by the time I fumbled my thanks I’m sure they were two zones away.

Yesterday I actually had someone to chat with. There is another blogger about on Fenris! It reminded me of my brief but lovely time in a guild back in vanilla, when the guild I was in was not just peopled by me.

So my Hunter took the screen shot above. She is so cute, she’s such an optimist. She insists on using The Last Relic of Argus because she’s sure one day it will pay off and send her where she wants to go. Not this time. This time she ended up in a tree in Stranglethorn Vale. Looking like some sort of transporter accident had welded her pet to her. Ah well, worth a try.

After my Hunter took her nostalgia shots my Druid tried once again to obtain a wondrous prize from the Crown Chemical Company. She was horrified to receive a second Vile Fumigator’s Mask. She said she’d used up valuable luck on it. I told her a true gambler would be encouraged by it; they’d just see it as a sign of a run of good luck. I gave her permission to go to just one blog and read about Cymre the Camel-Hoarding rider of Poseidus. That cheered her up so I think she’ll queue for it again today. Me? I’m going back to Azeroth; my husband’s still working over there so I must show my support. A dirty job, but someone’s got to do it.

I Visited the Crown Chemical Co. and all I got was this …

Yup, no big Love Rocket yet. But my Druid wanted me to take her picture in case this is all she gets from those apothecaries. That Druid has been causing a lot of trouble lately. I should have known better than to let her read the blogs I follow. And it’s had a domino effect because she showed the alts how to do it.

First, Druid troubles. Yesterday she saw a hawt human male at the Darkmoon Faire. Because of the extreme level difference I thought it most unsuitable so I made her leave. She was mopey after that and apparently visited Matty’s post Lovesick. GAWD! She discovered Fleetwood Mac and now all she does is mournfully play Go Your Own Way and Silver Springs on her Goblin Player and she keeps giving me accusatory looks.

But that’s just the start! She apparently gave my Hunter, Euphyley’s blog address. Yes! WoW Rare Spawn Guide, are you kidding Druid. You can imagine what kind of ruckus that caused! Every time I login my Hunter yells, pick me! Pick me!

And it only gets worse. My Druid must have visited Navi at The Daily Frostwolf. OMG! So now she is asking all kinds of questions about raiding and she told me this morning she wants to go to a training dummy and see if she can improve her dps! WTF! That’s it; I’m going to uninstall that DPS meter. Don’t tell my Druid but I’m kind of fascinated by that thing too. Same fight, same Druid, different group, her DPS has ranged between 7k and 18k. I didn’t know it was that variable. I’d better get rid of it before I’m as bad as the Druid.

If they don’t watch themselves I’m going back to my Forsaken Warlock who hardly EVER says anything and I’ll get a little peace. So you’re on notice guys, watch it. And no more blogs, I MEAN IT!

And Druid, best one’s Tusk, just saying.

Lovely Charm Farming … oooh my …

Geez, I’m late today but I had real world stuff to do. I had to take my husband’s truck for an oil change and safety inspection. I hope the place I always go knows what they’re doing. I only go there because they have Wi-Fi which makes sitting there bearable. I had other plans for today too, not irl though.

So I wasn’t gone long and I login to find my Druid at the Darkmoon Faire eyeing a human male! Between Ironsally’s tantrums and my Druid’s taste in men, these guys are driving me nuts. “This is beyond all decency!” “He’s a level 22, you’re 85, he’s too young for you!” “Stop this nonsense at once!”

Okay now two of my characters are mad at me but really, she’s out of control with this human male thing. I managed to drag her away from the Faire to get down to the really important business of the day. I’d had enough! Although I will get my Swift Lovebird soon enough by just doing the dailies, I couldn’t wait. I needed one now, today. Tired of waiting. I need my 270 Love Tokens to buy my Swift Lovebird from a Lovely Merchant TODAY.

I had been grinding lovely charms in Icecrown from Converted Heroes but it gets crowded, I also spent some time in the Ruins of Ammon and you get some greens and cloth but it’s pretty slow. I needed FAST charm farming. Someone mentioned the Slags in the Halls of Lightning and a kind commenter pointed me to the Throne of Tides and the Unstable Corruptions.  I needed 600 more charms, so I alternated between Halls of Lightning and Throne of Tides for a change of scenery, oh and yeah, had my grinding music.

Ta Da!! Finally. She’s quite lovely; I took her to the Darkmoon Faire so she could visit her relatives. It really didn’t take that long, I should have kept track of time but I think it took about an hour, maybe a bit more. So, very productive day, time well spent!  And yes, yes, I did the real world stuff first; I have my priorities straight, kind of. Well, most of the time. I know my family thinks it’s a little strange when I rush to the computer on the Feast of Winter Veil to get my gifts but come on, it’s Greatfather Winter, I can’t miss that!

Ironsally’s in a Snit!

Oh no! Knowing Ironsally it’s not like I didn’t see this coming. I heard from her last night, she’d read the piece on the new WoW Ironman Challenge on Wowinsider. She wants to do it. I told her no, absolutely not but she went on and on. “I can do it, I wasn’t being careful, I can be careful this time, really!”

Yeah right, this from someone who was constantly looking for rares to kill for the thrill. Sally come on, you are neither patience or careful and that’s what this takes.

I really think though that with all the WoW Ironman Challenges out there in the internetherweb we should use different naming conventions. I think I’ll call the one Ironsally did the Psyn-Vry WoW Ironman Challenge in honor of the creators of the challenge, Psynister and Vrykerion. The one now underway and mentioned by Wowinsider I prefer to think of as the Insane WoW Ironman Challenge because it sounds like competing in it could likely drive you there. I also remember mention of another challenge that was done in dungeons and you were only allowed to wear what dropped for you while in the dungeons. This one would have to be the WoW Dugeonator Supreme Challenge to me.

Does Ironsally think it can be done? Yes, by a Hunter or Warlock. I’m not familiar enough with all the other classes to know what is talented as opposed to what’s trained for each, so some classes will be luckier than others in the spells and abilities they have available.

I think a careful and patient player can do this. The really, really big problems only start in Cataclysm. There have been changes implemented in patch 4.3 that a patient player can benefit from, specifically these:

Improved Outland & Northrend Quest Flow

The amount of experience needed to gain levels 71 through 80 has been reduced by approximately 33%.

Many Group quests in Outland and Northrend have been re-tuned to allow players to complete them solo. They are no longer labeled as Group quests.

Most importantly, with the changes to the group quests in Outland and Northrend a player will gain more quests to complete. The larger pool of available quests means that there’s an opportunity to gain more levels and not show up in Cataclysm as a level 80. Cataclysm is where all the danger is, Cataclysm hits like a freight train. This will require patience and restraint, qualities that dear Ironsally lacks. She thought she’d be forever 84 because she got bored with Outland and left many quests behind. So between you and me I don’t think she’s got what it takes but don’t tell her I said that.

I did, in a moment of delirium create a character to do this challenge. At about level 5 I came to my senses and stopped. Like Sally I’m not patient. I’m stubborn, which helped a lot but not patient. I should really delete that character so I won’t be tempted again.

Last time I checked there is a Hunter at level 67, Ironmin. Go! Go! Ironman Ironmin! You can follow them on the forums or check here. I’m enjoying following along from the safety of my cozy chair.

Ironsally has her knickers in a twist about it. I told her Blizzard is not going to roll her back to one just so she can try it. She’s angry at me and as you can see she flew off in a huff to Deepholm where she said she’s going to look for Aeonaxx. I know! That girl is crazy; see why she’d never make it in The Insane WoW Ironman Challenge!

Rob Roy and Tonk Commander do the Human Cannonball

Hi. Didn’t get much sleep last night. A glass of wine usually manages to turn off the revving mind but sometimes it pops back awake after a couple hours sleep and then I’m really goofy for the whole next day. Which is today … so sorry. I decided to while away the time reading posts. Big Bear Butt was talking about the Liam Neeson movie coming out soon and I thought, WAIT!!! Liam Neeson! We must have a Liam Neeson movie! I found Rob Roy and the dogs and I had a late night party. It was great.

After the movie I felt lively enough to login but I thought the only thing I could manage was the Darkmoon Faire in my half awake state. Yes, that’s me, having fun at the faire at around 6:00am. What puzzles me is that people aren’t queuing for Apothecary Hummel, but at 6:00am there are plenty of people around to BLOW ME UP while I try to do Tonk Commander, geez. Just doesn’t seem fair. That game took me about five tries to complete.

I should have used some sense and not even tried to do The Human Cannonball. Yeah, much hilarity for all the bystanders. And why are there bystanders watching me miss my mark at this time of the morning … hey, you guys, nothing to see here, move along.

And oh, I have a question for you serious grouping people. Serious question really, I know it’s sometimes hard to tell. I noticed that when I was in a group who had their shi … stuff together, my dps literally doubled over my dps in a group with less than stellar performance. What is that about? Can that big a difference be from the tank holding aggro and keeping the boss still? Or did they just rub off on me? Whatever, I hope it sticks.

After I got tired of missing that stupid circle thing I decided to log off. I looked at some fan art. So many really, really talented artists out there. But I noticed something, maybe it’s just me or maybe it’s something everyone already knew and I just haven’t heard about it, but I got the feeling that the consensus is, massive boobage = attack power. I assume some theorycrafter has the numbers to back it up and all. I guess I’ll have to check Elitist Jerks, they must have a section on it. Seems to only be true for female characters though. You learn something new every day.

Okay, I’ll be quiet now. I’ll stop rambling and try to find something else to do to try to stay awake. Maybe slaughter hordes of mobs for charms to make bracelets while listening to really loud music. Oh! And that reminds me; don’t miss out on The Godmother’s Ultimate Warcraft Mix Competition. I’m working on my list; I’m looking forward to seeing everyone else’s list so I can steal songs from it.

Okay, got to stayawak………………………………………………………………………………

Apothecary Hummel Guide (unscientific and likely flawed)

Okay it’s all coming back to me now. I now remember that last year I had the same problem. Why does no one want to beat down Apothecary Hummel? I realize I have to queue for these things off peak hours but I don’t remember having any trouble getting into The Headless Horseman or Coren Direbrew in less than ten minutes at off peak hours. So what’s going on?

Admittedly, Coren and the horseman are pretty easy but so is Apothecary Hummel if you know what to do. Purely in my own self-interest I’m going to give you my McLonewolf’s guide to Apothecary Hummel. If like me, you only poke your nose out for holiday bosses, no problem, it’ easy. Just humor me and do this so I can get my chance at the Big Love Rocket, what do you say?

I downloaded TinyDPS as I remembered there was a lot of running about involved, being melee dps I wanted to make sure I wasn’t screwing everyone up trying to run around and bite those apothecaries on the butt. On seeing the meter after the fight I can only assume people don’t understand what’s going on. Cause I would have thought the caster would out dps the melee dps. No one was AFK, they were all running around doing SOMETHING, I just don’t know what.

So here follows Wolfie McLonewolf’s Totally Unscientific Guide to Apothecary Hummel. Probably shouldn’t pay too much attention to it but it works for me.

If old Hummel isn’t showing up as available in your dungeon finder, find a Steamwheedle Shyster Dungeonmaster. In Stormwind he’s right outside the bank. I haven’t verified this but I was told his Orgrimmar location is between the bank and Grommash Hold.

If you get in the instance and don’t have a bottle of perfume and a bottle of cologne, pick one of each up at the table on the left. MOST IMPORTANT STEP.

Apothecary Hummel does nasty purple damage so use the pinky purply perfume bottle if you’re in purply gunk.  Apothecary Baxter will do greeny damage so use your yellowy green cologne bottle if you’re being sprayed with or standing in green gooey stuff.

Apothecary Frye is the third and final guy who runs around willy-nilly tossing both purply and green gunk on the floor and attacking random people. Don’t worry, he can’t really hurt you. It’s the stuff on the floor that can, but yay! You have neutralizers! Just make sure to stand in purply stuff if you’re wearing the purple bottle and stand in green stuff if you’re wearing the yellow-green bottle. Or don’t stand in any stuff at all if you can manage that.

Yeah, there are some other things going on like Chain Reaction but just remember to wear the color coordinated perfume or cologne and then kill ‘em. Okay? Wowhead has a nice write up about it but seriously, do they really think anyone stops to discuss strategy in these LFD groups? I mean really?

So anyway, there you have it. I am not responsible for any deaths resulting from the use of my guide. Don’t try filing a civil suit against me at the Stormwind Courthouse.

Okay now please queue for Apothecary Hummel, all you all, go ahead, do eet. Pretty please?