Shaman

Couldn't think of a better title for this post.

Since my warrior is 80 and I don't have time to find groups for running even normal Trial of the Champion, I simply log her now to do the Argent Tournament dailies. Once I have 50 Champion's Seals, I'll be able to get two Claymores of the Prophet. Upgrading to a weapon with haste isn't really very good, but it will give me a slight DPS boost in preparation for chain instancing (normal Icecrown and Trial) once 3.3 hits. The gear won't exactly roll in, due to my limited play-time, but I should be able to gear up for heroics in a few weeks.

And so I decided to level another toon. My rogue and shaman are the only other two that have epic flyers, so I flipped a coin to see which one to give Cold Weather Flying to, and start playing.

I was leaning towards shaman anyway -- since his mount is way cooler and I had just levelled a melee toon -- so when the coin flip backed me up, I grabbed the tome and started carving (or at least lightning bolting) my way through Borean Tundra.

Now he's level 71, and I will try and play him as often as I can. I guess I got sick of playing my priest, but I'll get her through those last two levels eventually. I just feel like damaging stuff.

Also, it will be fun to level Engineering.

Gaiwyn of Proudmoore

Will I See Ulduar?

As I continue to play my alts I am reminded that I enjoy levelling. There is no commitment to being somewhere at a particular time. I really do like playing casually more than being part of the raiding scene, week in and week out.

The game is my hobby. But I want it to be a hobby that doesn't consume me or dictate how my evening will play out. Everything should come before playing. That's the reality.

Who knows whether I will get to experience Ulduar when 3.1 goes live. But I'm not fussed. I didn't get T5, so I don't expect to get T8. Raiding is fun but it also prevents one from having ultimate flexibility. I can't live like that anymore.

As for my alts: well, my Death Knight is still 77 but I now have all of his 78 blue gear enchanted and ready to go, as well as Titansteel Destroyer ready for when he hits 80. Running heroics will suffice for gear, although I'm sure there will be opportunity to run Naxxramas casually with friends' alts, too.

My Priest is still level 72 but she has finished Borean Tundra, which means I will be hitting up Dragonblight next time I log her shadowy presence.

I've really been enjoying playing my Warrior. I am only halfway through Zangarmarsh but she is already level 65 -- caught up to my Paladin. I managed to get Warsong Howling Axe in just one run of Blood Furnace, and will get Honed Voidaxe as soon as the opportunity to do Ring of Blood presents itself.

I enchanted the axe with Greater Savagery and have another scroll sitting in my bags for the other one. The rest of my gear is terrible, but that should change as I venture into Northrend in three levels.

Gaiwyn of Proudmoore

Black Borean Blight

I played my Death Knight a bit yesterday, with my brother on his warrior. He was already level 71, having done some of Borean Tundra.

I started on Borean Tundra myself on Thursday night, but only made it to the D.E.H.T.A encampment. Together, we started on Howling Fjord quests and finished up to the end of the first Explorers' League hub.

We grinded humanoids for about five mins so I could push out my last 1.5% and ding 71. No new spells for DKs at 71! At least I am getting gear upgrades. >.<

I continued my questing in Borean Tundra and completed Coldarra. Next is Fizzcrank Airstrip.

I started on Zul'Drak with my Mage, after a bit of Icecrown AoE cloth farming (and a few deaths). In Zul'Drak, I did this quest. Good fun, albeit a little buggy.

I want to finish each of these zones completely to try and build my reputation with the various factions up, which I will push to exalted through wearing their tabards in instances and doing daily quests.

See my Reputation Dailies guide.

We had a Black Temple raid again tonight. We had a few attempts at Illidan, but couldn't get past phases 3 and 4 (which alternate).

I started questing with my Priest, only to realise that levelling as Holy would be torturous. I respecced to Shadow and have been enjoying it immensely. I'm tempted once again to play as Shadow at level 80. ;)

I really have to push Gaiwyn to 80 and try to get as many gear replacements as I can in the next three days. We plan to start on 10-man Naxxramas raiding this Thursday, and I want in on the action. ;)

Watch for my Pre-Raiding Caster Gear guide.

Gaiwyn of Proudmoore

Ding: 74

Cleared Howling Fjord and ventured into Dragonblight. After anchoring myself to an inn and doing a few necessary quests, I was teleported to Dalaran, where I learned Portal: Dalaran. :)

Gaiwyn is now 75% into level 74.

I decided to finish off To All The Squirrels I've Loved Before. I had missed the Ram in Loch Modan -- very hard to find them -- and the Borean Frog. Not sure how I missed that one, as I was in Borean Tundra for so long.

At the same time, I decided to finish off Explore Borean Tundra. All I had to explore was Garrosh's Landing (not having been there while questing in Borean Tundra was an oversight on my part). With that done, I revisited Howling Fjord to get the last place there, Vengeance Landing, to get Explore Howling Fjord.

Three achievements in the space of half an hour. Not bad. ;)

Time to spend some money and level Tailoring!

Gaiwyn of Proudmoore

Borean Tundra - Kaskala to Death's Stand

I rode up to Kaskala and killed some of the raiders. It's freezing at home right now and all that ice scenery didn't exactly make me feel any warmer. >.<

Heading up to Death's Stand was no better, as it is all snow-covered ground as well -- the surrounding area is, after all, called the Frozen Reach.

After killing some of the defenders around the nearby ziggurat, I ventured inside to find Thassarian, a Death Knight. Now things are getting interesting! (And I need a coffee to warm myself up).

Inside The Wailing Ziggurat

Thassarian sent me back to Death's Stand to jump on his horse, Dusk. Sweet, I get to ride a Death Knight's mount!

Off to find a phylactery.

Giddyup Dusk

Next stop:

The Temple City of En'Kilah

Once inside, I simply had to inflict 20 undead casualties.

Inside En'Kilah

A return visit saw me kill three priests, one at each of the three spires.

The final quest was a group quest at the very top of Naxxanar. A small scenario played out and then we got to kill Prince Valanar. I leaped off the top of the necropolis to float down, for half a minute of high altitude perusing of the landscape, before hearthing back to Fizzcrank Airstrip.

After sorting my inventory out I will be logging out. Borean Tundra is officially complete!

Next stop: Howling Fjord.

Gaiwyn of Proudmoore

Borean Tundra - Fizzcrank Airstrip to the Dens of Dying

I spent about half an hour changing my UI a little. Also, I have a sore left index finger, which makes both playing and typing difficult.

Now that I made it to the Dens of Dying, I'm able to do some more plague-related quests. I finished up by heading into the nearby necropolis.

Talramas

Then it was Back to the Airstrip to finish up this portion of the Borean Tundra.

A quick stop at Amber Ledge to turn in Monitoring the Rift: Winterfin Cavern and I headed back to the start: Valiance Keep, to finally hand in the quest In Wine, Truth.

Next stop: Kaskala!

Gaiwyn of Proudmoore

Borean Tundra - Fizzcrank Airstrip to Winterfin Cavern

Time for some subterfuge. It looks like Plan B worked.

It Was The Orcs, Honest!

I headed off to deal with some murloc issues. King Mrgl Mrgl sure looks like a murloc... ;)

Diving deep underwater, I gathered some essence to help me learn the speech of the Winterfin murlocs. Now that I can speak their language, I have to gather clams as an introductory gift -- to break the ice, so to speak.

Exploring underwater reveals yet another cool environment

I continued questing for the Winterfin murlocs, also gathering clams as I went. I see that I need 100 to get a Siren's Tear, a reagent in the crafting of a Deathchill Cloak.

Handing in made me level up: Level 72!

After slaughtering some orcas in the frigid water, I was given a Murloc suit and asked to enter the cave, disguised. There, under the pretense of a peaceful murloc, I would slay Claximus for his claw, the climax kill of this culmination of questing.

Grlglmrrrrgllll

The crafty crab slain and his claw collected, a caged murloc escorted to safety and one other Amber Ledge quest completed in the process, I handed in to find that even this area ties into Malygos and his crazy ambitions to control magic.

Back at Fizzcrank, I did an escort quest out of the nearby cave and handed that in. Next stop: The Dens of Dying.

Gaiwyn of Proudmoore

Borean Tundra - Fizzcrank Airstrip Part II

Questing continues around the oil-soaked areas surrounding Fizzcrank Airstrip: the Scalding Pools and Geyser Fields. I also had to kill some Mammoths. Just don't tell D.E.H.T.A. ;)

I got distracted by some elementals I disovered. Some water and fire elementals were in areas next to each other and every so often two would engage each other and start battling it out, fire vs water.

How cool is that?

I farmed some of the new motes, called Crystallized Fire -- for the sake of it. Ten make an Eternal Fire. The respawn rate for the elementals is pretty good, too. Could be a nice farming spot in future -- as a frost mage, the fire ones are very easy to kill. ;)

Back to questing.

After blowing up a sinkhole and testing a shrink-ray device (results did vary), it was time to hand in the quests, pushing me to Honoured with Valiance Expedition!

The followup to the failed experiment has me heading back out to loot some orc corpses in the area next to the elementals I discovered just before. I'll crack into that after I eat. :)

Gaiwyn of Proudmoore

Borean Tundra - Fizzcrank Airstrip

I hearthed to Fizzcrank to finally start on this quest-hub. Some of the new creatures around the place are pretty interesting and the variations in landscape and environments are well worth checking out. Also, don't type blog entries while riding towards a cliff... :p

After a few close brushes with death, the least contributor of which was gravity, I survived the robotic madness and returned to Fizzcrank to turn in my first quest circuit's bounty.

I continued questing around the area, killing robots, burning planes and searching through dogshit. Really, who comes up with these quests >.<

There is more to go for this area but it's time to eat and then play my warrior for a little while.

Gaiwyn of Proudmoore

Borean Tundra - Fizzcrank Airstrip to The Nexus

I flew from Valiance Keep up to Amber Ledge and made my way up to Fizzcrank Airstrip. I love how mounts between flight points are different vehicles: dragons, flying machines, etc.

I grabbed the Flight Point before entering the inn to bind myself. I also handed in Distress Call there, a quest I had sitting in my log. Looks like the gnomes around these parts require my assistance. Robot gnomes, indeed. o.O

Before I could leave the inn to pick up any quests, I was sucked into The Nexus -- a partially completed one. I killed the two bosses that were left: Grand Magus Telestra and Keristrasza, completing two of my four instance quests.

Halls of The Nexus

After eventually replacing our tank and healer, we did a full clear, this time also killing Ormorok the Tree-Shaper and Anomalus.

After handing in the four quests, I ended up replacing three of my epics with blues. o.O Haste FTW. ;)

I have now fulfilled my obligation to The Nexus. Next time I play I will definitely do Fizzcrank quests.

Gaiwyn of Proudmoore

Level 60 vs Level 71

I have continued to play my warrior. She is now level 60, which means Titan's Grip has become a reality, It didn't take long for me to level my 2H axe skill from 1 to over 280. One Blood Furnace run later and it is at 299/300.

Anyway, hitting stuff with two huge axes is just as much fun as I anticipated. It was easy enough to adjust to the rage gain difference. Levelling to 70 will be fun indeed. ^^

I have decided to drop Blacksmithing in favour of another gathering skill. If I pick up Skinning, then essentially I will have three skinners. However, I prefer playing a warrior to both druid and hunter, who are my other two skinners. Besides, gathering professions are likely to increase my income a little bit.

In getting my journeyman riding skill, it pretty much cleaned me out. Gaiwyn only has about 60g right now. I will have to do a whole lot more Borean Tundra questing and maybe see if enchants are in demand at all.

After all, I have to save up 1,000g by level 77 for Cold Weather Flying. :/

Gaiwyn of Proudmoore

Borean Tundra - Amber Ledge to Coldarra

I killed stuff nearby to get a key to open a prison, then went and checked out some seismic readings before heading back to the ledge to get the followups. The quests here give Kirin Tor reputation.

I ran back to grab a sorcerer whom I dragged back to town, connected by a chain. Apparently Kirin Tor mages have gone missing and questioning prisoners is the only way to find out why one in particular was taken captive.

On my way to getting the key for the next quest, I had to dive deep underwater to check out a larger seismic location. Glowy purple stuff. Oooh.

Rescue time! Our esteemed prisoner awaits my heroic endeavour to destroy the shield protecting her captor and slaying that egregious guard for her key. Unfortunately, she was already dead so all I had to do was simply loot the key from a box. ^^

It seems that the key was damaged and I have to repair it. Two dragon flights later and I find myself in Coldarra. And cold and icy it is.

The Nexus

Some running around saw me complete the initial quests in this area. This whole Malygos and the Blue Dragonflight storyline is pretty cool.

Malygos of the Blue Dragonflight

Quests here give The Wyrmrest Accord reputation. That's four factions so far.

I dinged while doing my second round of quests: Level 71.

Gaiwyn of Proudmoore

Borean Tundra - Riplash Strand to Amber Ledge

I went over to Riplash Strand to have my first encounter with the Tuskarr. I killed a whole lot of raiders and completed the handful of quests around this area. The main chain involved swimming and killing a seamonster with a huge trident. Handing the last quest in got me friendly with The Kalu'ak.

Ok, time to head to the D.E.H.T.A encampment -- Druids for the Ethical and Humane Treatment of Animals. Incidentally, it is also an anagram for HATED. Seeing a little more of the zone, I'm impressed with what Blizzard have done.

I did a whole lot of animal related quests, like freeing trapped mammoth calves and killing poachers. Then it was down to the beach with some crate collecting and underwater looting and killing.

Finding people for small group quests is really easy, since there are so many people questing.

Off to the quarry by Amber Ledge, now that my D.E.H.T.A questing is done.

Two Kalu'ak questgivers here just kept chaining quests together -- more rep is good. I had to run into the quarry multiple times. The respawns are crazy, but it wasn't hard at my gear level, and considering how many people are around. Crazy times. :o

Now for Amber Ledge proper. The Flight Master here is a huge dragon called Surristrasz. I turned in a quest I had had sitting in the log for a while. Time to take a break before these Amber Ledge Dalaran quests.

Gaiwyn of Proudmoore

Borean Tundra - Valiance Keep

I logged into the server and ported to Stormwind before clearing my mailbox and getting rid of a few things to make room in my bags. I rode down to the harbour and took the ship to Valiance Keep in Borean Tundra.

My Lich King journey has begun.

Upon arrival, I grabbed the Flight Point and then ran around town unlocking the next level of my professions: Grand Master First Aid, Grand Master Enchanting and Grand Master Tailoring, as well as learning all recipes available to me. It took a decent chunk out of my miserable 500-odd gold stash.

I picked up quests and ran out into the nearby area to fulfil the requirements. I eventually finished those up, as well as the few around the Keep itself. I moved up into Farshire and had to go into the mine a couple of times to complete some quests in that area.

Some ghoul killing and harvester rewiring later and it was back to the farmers of Farshire -- where I hit Friendly with Valiance Expedition -- and then the inn back at town, which incidentally is now my hearthstone home.

The server had three minutes left on its restart timer, so I decided that it would be prudent to log out while in the inn.

--

After the server restart, I logged back in to finish up a few loose ends before I could head down to Riplash Strand, which I will start on tomorrow.

Day 1 of my Northrend experience complete.

I realise that playing for such a short stretch of time means I haven't progressed terribly much, but this is part of my plan. I have been reading the full text of every quest and just strolling through quests I already did in beta. So far it is basically some guff on cultists among the friendlies and some scourge activity. I know that in reading every quest's description and experiencing every scripted event, I will fully experience this new content and appreciate what the development team have done regarding the whole Lich King story behind it all.

Gaiwyn of Proudmoore

It's Live!

The expansion went live and hordes of Alliance poured into Northrend.

Wowhead have implemented a blog on their website. I've added it to the sidebar.

When I got home, I logged my level 52 warrior to do a little questing towards gaining a higher level. I did a /who 71 and saw four people at that level after just an hour and a half past the official launch time. Incidentally, they were all in Borean Tundra -- my preferred zone of the two starting Northrend zones.

I gained a level on my warrior and then went out for dinner. Upon return, I already had plans to watch a movie with my friend, but decided to log my mage quickly to see what was going on. Some of my friends were in Utgarde Keep, which kind of made me feel like I was missing out on all the action.

But I'm really not worried. I look forward to experiencing everything that the Lich King expansion has to offer; and I intend to go at a slower pace than in the previous expansion, immersing myself in the lore a lot more and just absorbing everything around me as I move through each zone and fight my way through each instance.

I was finally able to get the Lich King client to download. It finished installing and updated to the latest patch. As soon as my brother gives me the product key from the copy that I had him pre-order for me, I will be able to upgrade my account.

Northrend stoically awaits Gaiwyn. Gaiwyn patiently awaits his expansion upgrade.

Gaiwyn of Proudmoore

Testing, Testing

Although I wasn't able to get any sort of recount system to function, I was able to test out both my rogue and priest. I specced my priest into shadow and headed to Howling Fjord. I didn't do much, as I haven't got any mods running and it was very laggy. What I did find out is that a. Shadow does decent damage; and b. Healing is still pretty good because of the addition of the attribute, spellpower. It will take me a while to get used to playing a shadow priest again. I look forward to levelling on live.

Next, I specced my rogue to mutilate. Some things have changed, and some things have been added. Gouge and Kick must be relearned, as these have changed in some way. Also, you can no longer make poisons; you have to purchase them from a vendor. Crippling and Mind-Numbing are no longer ranked, either.

There is a new talent, Dismantle. My rogue also has a new Herbalism talent, Lifeblood. And finally, there is a new PvP trinket replacement talent, Every Man for Himself. Anything that replaces a trinket is good!

I went to Borean Tundra this time. It's where I took my mage when I first tried the beta. I must say, mutilate does pretty amazing damage. There's a lot going on at once, and the change to mana / energy / rage regeneration makes things a little tricky at first, but I do know that with mutilate, poisons are just crazy. Also, Hunger for Blood and Cut to the Chase are just amazing talents. You can keep the Enrage effect up pretty much indefinitely. It refreshes to a 3 stack of 30sec if you do it once while the three stacks are still active -- and you don't even notice the 30 energy cost. You don't even have to attack the target you select to refresh it. ;)

Slice and Dice is very easy to keep up, as you simply need to Envenom or Eviscerate your target to renew it. And since you will always have Deadly Poison ticking on your target because of Deadly Brew, you can Envenom just about whenever you like.

I think that with the change of dynamics, if I was to stick with mutilate, it would take a wee bit to get used to, in terms of energy management and skill rotations.

I headed back to SW and respecced combat. I don't have very good weapons, but even taking that into account, there was a noticeable decrease in DPS. I think that either I fail at being a combat rogue or it just isn't as good as mutilate. Once I have tried out a Shadow Dance build, I will have a better idea of what I want to spec when the expansion goes live. For now, I am strongly leaning towards mutilate.

For now, I want to continue levelling my paladin on live and maybe explore a little bit on beta. I don't want to do a whole lot of quests because then they won't be as fun when it all goes live. Also, the default game interface is very lacklustre. It's hard to play without my addons and ui customisation.

I have yet to try out frost or arcane on my mage, and still have to try some level 80 builds with the premades I transferred. So much to do, so little time!

Gaiwyn of Proudmoore