Brutosaur mount in Blizzard Store

Thousands of dollars of Brutosaurs seen here running around Dornogal. I must admit I would like one, but I don't see myself ever spending $90 in game for a mount. If it's ever half off, maybe. I've been wanting a mobile mailbox for a while now, but I guess Katy Stampwhistle will have to do for now.

Going Solo in Warcraft

Blizzard has officially embraced the idea of Solo'ing in World of Warcraft. I'd like to throw out there that Follower Dungeons are much more fun than Delves. I really wish they would realize this and make Heroics available and allow for better gear improved experience gain. It's nice to have Dragonflight dungeons available from 10-70 but that's a long time to devote to just a few dungeons. Seeing more of the old world and lower-level dungeons would be great.

Right now, Delves appear to be where it's at. Although I am still hopeful that Follower Dungeons will get some love in the future. I have a dream to be able to roll through some dungeons with all of my alts. The current AI being used is really nice and well thought out. They will remove curses, apply buffs, and lay out Mage Food. They even give suggestions for short cuts. If you haven't joined any Follower Dungeons recently, I highly recommend it. It's a great way to learn your role (Tank/Healer/DPS) - and Captain Garrick is a pretty awesome tank.

Right now, with my Warband Mentored Leveling at 20% I am getting almost a whole level per dungeon at level 13 while running Dragonflight dungeons. That's not too bad. And you can pretty much do them blindfolded if you want. You just have to keep up.

Time Gated Reputation Rant

I have been playing this game since the very beginning. I have a max level character for almost each class for Horde and Alliance - multiple Druids, Hunters, and Priests for some reason. I have many rare toys and transmogs that take a considerable about of grinding. I can do many mindless tasks that take days to complete (max Fishing and Arch). But for whatever reason, I can't seem to grasp the idea of reputation-based time gating that Blizzard insists on implementing for some quests and achievements (and now game progression). I am still missing out on tons of Dragon Flight content because I refuse to do the daily quests to raise the base Dragon Isle Renown. There's something about doing 3 quests per week for 9 months to continue the story that just makes me angry. Regular story progression should grant enough reputation to continue. I shouldn't have to wait 6 months while I do some mindless tasks over and over again just to continue with the story line. I already paid for the expansion, now I have to pay for 6 months of the game to finish the game!?

I play just about every day but very casually. I don't do Mythics and maintain a very solo lifestyle. No guild membership for many years. Here are my Dragon Isles Renown Max levels.

10; faction=Dream Wardens
11; faction=Iskaara Tuskarr
9; faction=Loamm Niffen
6; faction=Maruuk Centaur
5; faction=Dragonscale Expedition
Learned; faction=Azerothian Archives (had to get the transmogs)
20; faction=Valdrakken Accord (boosted char gave me this)
Neutral; faction=Artisan's Consortium (not a crafter)
Empty; faction=Cobalt Assembly (not even sure what this is for)
Acquaintance; faction=Sabellian
Acquaintance; faction=Wrathion
Rift-Mender; faction=Soridormi (transmogs)
Aspirational; faction=Glimmerogg Racer
Exalted; faction=Winterpelt Furbolg (I've always loved the Furbolgs)

Microsoft Defender and Battlenet issues - BLZBNTBGS80000011

So, I've been going round and round with Blizzard support on an issue with my Windows system. It's a centrally managed system running Windows 10 and Microsoft Defender. I have a local administrator account and can do most things, but I can't add Defender exclusions, so I am at the mercy of Blizzard support to try to figure this out. So far, I am on the 3-4 message and here are the current suggestions.

Reinstalling the client:

https://battle.net/support/article/34721

https://battle.net/support/article/34719

Background Apps:

https://battle.net/support/article/23848

New Admin Account:

https://battle.net/support/article/34550

Upload new information files:

https://battle.net/support/article/12988

After the initial response, they requested some general information about the system and being the support person that I am, I was glad to comply:

https://battle.net/support/en/article/12988

Overall, the support experience had been very helpful, and the representatives have been very kind and patient. It initially took some time to get a response (I started this adventure during the holidays) but they have been very responsive since then. I'm also grateful I have an M1 Mac that runs the game just fine while I figure this out.

Account Security

Blizzard has posted a new account security page for Battle.net. You should all take a look. Having your account broken into is no fun at all.

Celestial Steed Makes Blizzard 2 Million Dollars on Day One

Celestial Steed Makes Blizzard 2 Million Dollars on Day One:

In the first few hours after making the Celestial Steed and Lil' Xt available on the online pet store, Activision-Blizzard made over two million dollars. In less than four hours! That's pretty impressive - or depressing, depending on what side of the currently-raging-fence you're on. For one thing, the Steed is priced at $25 a pop; To share your feelings on that, drop into our forum discussion here.

New Recruit-A-Friend mount coming soon

New Recruit-A-Friend mount coming soon:

Continuing the very unusual middle of the night announcements from Blizzard, Bashiok has just posted that the Recruit-A-Friend program is getting a brand new mount soon to replace the Zhevra. Presumably this is to give players with the zhevra some reason to bother with the program going forward.

Beginning in just a few days, players who participate in the Recruit-A-Friend program will receive a whole new reward for showing a friend the ropes in Azeroth: the X-53 Touring Rocket, a two-seater flying mount that automatically increases its speed as your mount skill improves (up to 310% speed if you already have a 310% mount). The X-53 will be replacing the current Zhevra mount reward, which is retiring from the Recruit-A-Friend business after a good run. If you've already claimed a Zhevra (or claim one prior to the change), you'll be able to hang on to it, of course. We'll have more details on the new Recruit-A-Friend mount once it becomes available.



Current Recruit-A-Friend FAQ - http://us.blizzard.com/support/article.xml?locale=en_US&articleId=20588

source

I won't lie, I'll be getting my hands on this mount sooner or later. A two-seater flying mount that will scale up with my 310% mount? That's hard to resist. Well played, Blizzard. I wonder if my imaginary friends want to check out WoW...

Patch Improvements

I'd just like to take the time to thank Blizzard for the drastic improvements on the quality of the last few patches. I remember not too long ago that a patch and/or maintenance meant an entire day of downtime. The last few patches and scheduled maintenance periods have gone very smooth with little, if any, unscheduled downtime.

Thanks for the quality control Blizzard. Now let's hope it becomes the norm and not the exception.

Corehound Pups for Authenticator Users

Blizzard has pulled another fast one on us. They are now utilizing non-combat pets as bait to get players to act accordingly. I can't say it's a bad thing. The more secure the game is, the better playing experience for all. First we get one for merging with Battle.net, now we get one for using the Authenticator. Next thing you know they will offer us one for cash alone, nah, they'd never do a thing like that.

Pandaren Monk and Mini K.T. Pets Live

Yes, I bought them both. It's a great deal considering how much people shell out for the card game pets. Besides, it's for charity!

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Well Blizzard has finally done it. After charging only for out-of-game services like faction changes and character customization, with the release of in-game pets on the Blizzard store, they've finally moved on to selling virtual items for real money. And there's a word, dirty in the mouths of some, that's floating around that some of you may not have heard or understood before: microtransactions. We wouldn't blame you -- some of our own staff didn't even know what they were just a little while ago. But with the decision to sell in-game items for straight cash, Blizzard has entered the fascinating and treacherous world of microtransactions. And if you're going to follow them off into this world, you might as well at least know what they're all about.

And so, we're here to help. Whether you've never heard of microtransactions before, you're convinced that they're the devil and that Blizzard has grown too greedy for their own good, or you can't wait to open up your wallet and get a Pandaren Monk to follow you around, let's take a second and look at the history of the microtransaction model, what it means that Blizzard made this decision, and what might happen to the game in the future.

Continue reading A WoW player's guide to microtransactions

Finally, a Pally Nerf on the PTR

Woot, it's about damn time.

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You know how it goes. Blizzard nerfs Paladins, Paladins shake their heads in disbelief, then break out the pitchforks and scream bloody murder for a bit, beg Blizzard not to push through with the changes, and eventually run home and cry into My Little Pony sheets and staining pink underwear. Sure enough, when the recent PTR patch notes hinted at nerfs to the Paladin class, the pitchfork-wielding and bloody murder-screaming ensued. We're now about to enter the stage of bargaining. It's still on the PTR, after all. For those wondering what the bed-wetting ruckus is all about, Sacred Shield was nerfed to proc only once every 30 seconds (essentially proccing only once every cast of the spell unless augmented with talents), Aura Mastery was nerfed to 6 seconds down from 10, and Lay on Hands is being primed to be uncastable on one's self.

Ghostcrawler said that he didn't 'want to promise (they) won't change the spell for 3.3,' but that players also shouldn't 'worry too much on the Lay on Hands change at this point' since it didn't make it to the latest PTR build. He explains in the forums that Paladins are no longer just a support class (as they were for quite a long time), but that all the abilities over time have contributed to making the class feel like a 'one-man army' that is able to play offensively, defensively, and essentially take on more challenges without having to change stances, forms, or even specs. In a rather snippy response to a troll crying (with My Little Pony blanket in hand) in the forums, Ghostcrawler simply said, 'Dear OP, Bye. Hugs, GC.'

Continue reading Patch 3.3 PTR: Ghostcrawler explains Paladin changes

The Hybrid Tax

Funny, I always thought this was just common sense. Why else would anyone role a "Pure" class? This has always puzzled me about my priest vs. druids and paladins (in terms of healing). I've never really had a chance to compare since I get so little epic gear. But, if I did, I'd certainly be pissed about it.

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Ghostcrawler has put a significant sticky up on the forums about what he calls the 'hybrid tax' in terms of PvE play -- there's been some back and forth lately on the forums about hybrid classes and what they should and shouldn't be able to do, and GC wants to put any confusion about what Blizzard intends 'hybrids' to be to rest. Very basically, he says that there are three roles in the game (tanking, healing, and DPS), and if a class can respec to perform a different role, it's considered a hybrid class. Otherwise, it's a 'pure' class. This means a few things: pure classes, he says, should have slightly higher DPS ('all things being equal,' and when does that ever happen?), because they don't have the option to switch out. There's no rule as to how much better that is, but as a tradeoff of rerolling being the only way for 'pures' to switch, they get to be a little better. That's the 'hybrid tax,' and mages, hunters, rogues, and warlocks don't have to pay it.

Hybrids, however, do, and that means that paladins, druids, priests, shamans, and to a certain extent, warriors and death knights, will in Blizzard's view never be able to equal 'pure' classes in terms of DPS output, with everything else being equal. You may love your ret pally, and he may be in uber gear, but he should never be able to pour out as much damage as an equally specced and geared hunter, because you can switch to healing, and the hunter can't.

Continue reading Ghostcrawler and the 'hybrid tax

First Cataclysm Character

I'm trying to decide on my first character for Cataclysm. I'm thinking a Worgen warrior since I'm working on the Heirloom plate gear for my Pally right now. And he should easily be 80 by the time it comes out.

Warcraft Puzzles

Here are a few things about World of Warcraft that have been puzzling me.

• Why can I ride my Elekk through a giant bush or the limb of a huge tree but a bamboo tiki torch stops me dead in my tracks?
  
• Why can I fly all the way across Outland for 10s but flying half way across Northrend costs almost 2g?
  
• Why are some keys destroyed when you use them but some remain on your keyring forever?
  

Meet the Wizard (Diablo III)

Blizzard has posted the video for the Wizard class in Diablo III. I have also added a feed box for Diablo II news.

Diablo III Announced

We've all been waiting for this one. I must say they have done a good job of keeping it under wraps. There have been a few small rumors but nothing of note. And from the looks of the trailers, they have been working for quite some time. The game play looks fantastic and the art work really makes me want to dust off my D2 disks. In the mean time I will just bring up the Flash Page and enjoy the background music.