Not again Druid, and a SWTOR Canine Alert

Yesterday we had visitors, it was fun. Went out to lunch, I had Shepard’s Pie, yum. I could not wait to login this morning though, because I knew Navimie had a new Ironman on Zangarmarsh. I wanted to see if I could catch the overlap in time zones and talk to her.

What did I find on logging in? THIS!! What is it with these Druids. It’s enough that my main runs after the human guards and dark, dangerous looking types in Stormwind but now Ferricat’s doing it too. Because, and apologies male Gnomes, I know she’s not hanging around the Inn at Menethil Harbor because of the Gnome.

So from the safety of the Inn, cause she’s a scaredy cat Ironman, doesn’t want to accidentally fall off a pier and drown while talking, she finally got to talk to Navimie! I can’t wait to read the next installment of her adventures!

Later today I hope Ferricat will stop chatting up that human male and actually get back to leveling and not dying. We’ll see, it’s hard to tell with these human male crazy Druids. She’s having a rougher time of it than Ironsally the Warlock did. She can take one mob at a time, that’s it. My main, a feral Druid, has forgotten she can heal, she never heals herself. Ferricat on the other hand heals A LOT, and immediately shifts back to cat form and runs away because she has no energy to attack after shifting. Dash is becoming another rediscovered spell. It’s interesting to find out which spells are useful with an Ironman as opposed to leveling regularly, they’re seldom the same.

Anyway, I wanted to get out this warning to all you SWTORers. I read this post at Psynister’s Notebook but I obviously didn’t pay enough attention so I don’t want this to happen to you. DOGS DON’T LIKE SWTOR!

Sorry about the picture quality but I think you can get the idea. If you bought a boxed collector’s edition of SWTOR then you know about the lovely Journal of Master Gnost-Dural that’s included. The one I hadn’t finished reading. The one up there. Ripped apart. In pieces. Gone.

While I don’t know what’s causing this phenomenon I do now know it’s real. Dogs are not SWTOR fans, in fact it seems they’re bitter enemies. Hide your authenticators from them, hide your journals, maps, and any other SWTOR paraphernalia you might have if you value it. I’m just saying, even a Darth is no match for a strong-toothed dog.

WAIT! WAIT A SEC! Whew, thought you’d left. Ironsally is so excited. Frikky over at Drunkards Regalia made a forum post and said he was taking requests for character drawings. That Frikky isn’t all looks and no brain, that boy’s smart. He knows how to get the girls! Ironsally quickly requested a portrait, and in no time it was complete and she loves it.

Isn’t it great! If I were you I’d lose no time contacting Frikky. That boy’s going to be famous and then who knows how much gold he’ll want for a portrait! Ironsally’s just glad she got in on the ground floor. And oh, she thinks he’s dreamy, great, Druids and Humans, now Humans and Undead, what next. I don’t even want to know.

Of Furbolg and (Iron)Men

Furbolgs

One of my favorite things about WoW is that no matter how small the bit of time you have to play there’s something to do. I had a half hour this morning before an appointment. I decided to visit blogs and when browsing Bubbles of Mischief, Cyrme had this post. I did not know that. I had The Defender of the Timbermaw but knew nothing of the Stave of Fur and Claw. 20 more minutes, plenty of time to pick one of those up. I even had time to spare to menace the children of Stormwind, and visit Ithurian Whitespire, dancing about as a Furbolg for him hoping to cheer him. He was downsized and he’s been a little melancholy since then.

Ironmen

Speaking of melancholy my little Ferricat has been moping about Ashenvale with a sullen expression on her face. I waited forever to take this screen shot, hoping for a smile or at least a Night Elf jiggle, nothing. Fine, is it something I said? What’s wrong? She’s a very solemn Night Elf to begin with, nothing like my other Druid. What gives here? I mean you’re still alive and all.

OH. That got a reaction. No thanks to you she said. WHAT! What have I done? She told me to look at my quest log. Oops. They were all yellow. She was mad because I’d been making her do yellow quests and then complaining about her being “squishy” as opposed to my Warlock Ironman. Last night she kept having to run for the hills and I couldn’t figure out what her problem was. Duh. Silly me. I think there’s some ill will between the Warlock and Druid, I’d better watch what I say from now on. Don’t want to start any drama among them.

She may also have been annoyed that I insisted we go to Northern Barrens and hang out until we found at least one Takk’s Nest. Selling companion pets enabled Ironsally to buy her fast flying mount so it’s never too early to start saving. She’ll thank me later.

I’m dying to login, she’s almost level 24 and then she’ll finally be able to train Faerie Fire (Feral) which should make a difference. I can’t right now. Death and Taxes. While Ferricat is going to try to cheat death I’ve found no way to get around taxes. This is the last stretch and by later today, Ashenvale lookout, kitty’s coming for you!

One More Time … with Feeling

This is embarrassing. Ironman, I wish I knew how to quit you. I think it’s because I had so much fun doing it with Ironsally. And then Effy entered Ironeffy, cool, I’ll follow along. And then Euphyley’s Ironsteve entered the race. Next, Big Bear Butt declares for the Ironman with Bigironbutt. I cannot stop myself, I tried but I can’t.

Let’s see. There was Ironmary the mage who I just tossed aside when it became evident that I’d never make it to 85 with a Mage. Then came Ironsally, dear little iron-willed Warlock. The Druid above is Ferricat. She was born a few weeks after Ironsally reached 85. I thought I’d see if a melee character could reach 85 under the Ironman rules. I abandoned her at level 20, with the nerfs to questing in 4.3 I thought it wouldn’t be a fair comparison. Then came poor little Ironadilla who couldn’t take the stress of the new Ironman’s no-death clause and committed voluntary death by Defias.

Ferricat is on the move. She has no deaths but I think that’s because I wasn’t trying to be careful. Compared to Ironsally at the same level she feels squishy, I’ve got to remember I have a bear form. I don’t think I’ll sign up officially as an Ironman as I’m afraid I’d then stress about trying not to die. After reading Euphyley’s post she’s been on the lookout for rares. She was thrilled to find three in Redridge. Snarlflare, Ribchaser and Chatter and they all gave nice XP. I’m going to level her and if she dies, so be it; she’s continuing using the original Psynister/Vrykerion Ironman Challenge rules. If it looks like she can’t make it to 85 without resorting to grinding or dailies I think I’ll call defeat but she’s going to give it a shot.

So anyway, if I’m not around you’ll know where I am. Last time, really, I promise.

Musical Accompaniment: Here I go Again.

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!