Three down two to go!

Slowly getting closer to Crusader title. Fighting on the Elekks ... argh! Next up the dwarves, then the gnomes.

Alterac Valley

Alterac Valley battleground (AV BG) is a love or hate bg. Personally I love it and have been in so many with different alts/servers, I lost track a long time ago. Right now its regained popularity as its a great way to grind xp if your sick of kill 10 more whatever quests in Outlands or Northrend.

In fact, Sassi did her last three/four levels to 80 in battlegrounds, mostly AV. (An AV weekend was sweet with the extra honor!) Nice to pick up a few achievements (Loyal Defender - 50 kills in your base) on the way too!

The DK's have been stagnating in the mid 60's (Death Knight), but with the xp in bgs I'm slowly leveling them. Honestly I haven't any interest in most of the Outlands quests so until they're Northrend ready its AV time! Also there are no real plans for either as far as endgame raiding, daily grinding, achievements chasing, etc., goes either. They're both just for fun (horde 63 and alliance 65).

Since AV gives the best xp at this level, that's what they're doing! It doesn't hurt that I enjoy AV, and still queue both the hunter and shadow priest. I mean, where else can 40 people queue up and overcoming all the diverse opinions and personalities, the afkers, the 'all Offense' or 'all Defense' proponents, or the people that just scream in chat that we're all losers even before we leave the cave?

When it comes together its great, when its a fail... its a horrid fail!

This is what I love to see -

This is one of the 'shouldn't have happened BGs. The alliance was ahead by 150+ points but the 'all in for Drek' crowd won the day (who needs defense=/fail). So the contiued run in/out dying/rezzing and the Horde beat us by 5 points!!! The Horde so deserved that win! 5-0 I'd say unbelievable but I've been on the winning side at 4-0 so I know it can happen.

This screenie is from a week ago, when I was on Sassi. Defending the base I was wondering what was firing on me - when I looked up and saw this gryphon! Apparently some industrious alliance in the AV had summoned him - his attacks are pretty hard hitting for the non-bubble wearing crowd. I hadn't seen this before so found it interesting!



Makes me wish for the days of vanilla wow with the epic 3 hour to 3 day battles that actually requirred strategy and teamwork. The zergfest that it is now is what so many of us know and are comfortable with now, unfortunately.

What I've been experiencing alot of lately

My DSL line has apparently become a tasty treat for squirrels, or so I'm told by the AT&T line repairman.

The big BUT, I don't always lose my signal doing other things, so I'm suspecting we need to re-evaluate the Add-ons and see if we maybe have a contributor to the problem there too.

It's very frustrating needless to say!

Hillsbrad Tourism

Biya (Horde DK) is leveling her herbalism to supply her scribing needs. She hasn't started making $$ like Greaf (Alliance DK), so she's been out working away on herbing. Her choices were Hillsbrad, STV or Wetlands. Hmm two gangtastic places or a predominately Alliance area (Wetlands is the fastest imho). **Added note if you aren't using Gatherer or some sort of marking add on you should!

Oh what the heck Hillsbrad - fond memories getting attacked by a guy hiding in the bushes dressed like a pirate when I was a wet behind the ears noob and at least you can see the 'red' guys most of the time!

Hillsbrad is the first place most people experience world pvp and ganking on PvP servers with the never-ending back and forth fight between Southshore and Tarren Mills. Having done my share of wiping the towns, being killed at all levels and in different parts of this zone (both sides) - it is definitely not for the faint of heart! Hmm maybe all the trees in STV would have been a better hiding spot. Like a glowing footed horse that screams every time you mount can be hidden!

Anyway, Biya, being a DK and not having leveled there is herbing, and doing her explorer achievement. While she's been making her tour she visited a couple of places that are a bit interesting -

The big pink hole that use to be Dalaran - I wish I could have seen that take off. All my Horde characters when in the vicinity of the former Dalaran location must make a few grind loops trying to get the black kitty as I'm way to cheap to pay hundreds of gold for it!

The normal places are visited (Sassi is actually finishing missed quests from this area for Exalted status with Under City and the Loremaster title so more screenies to come!)

One of the places that was finally visited, the mysterious island off the coast - Purgation Isle A 'must visit' for the Hillsbad exploration.
Seemingly innocent its full of spectral elite mobs, and once you're on it it becomes gloomy, depressing colored.
This is what is up top - nothing. More elite mobs, but no secret 'ah ha!' I found it anything. So why is it there? Why level 60 elites in a 20-30 zone?

Next stop to pay respects to Mr. Stark.

Had to run by and see George Candarte - UC leatherworking supplies guy tucked back in the hills near the wall and Kris Legace - freewheeling tradeswoman on the backside of Durnhold.

Hillsbrad is a fun area to level with interesting questing. A great place for mining, herbing and skinners (the yeti cave skin and coin ftw!). Its full of lore and for more awesome times - post level 68ish - the Caverns of Time - seeing all the movers and shakers back before they were important NPC's in the game. Love it!

Raene's Cleansing or I'm a Furbolg

Raene's Cleansing is a long quest line, with an interesting reward... if you don't complete it! At about Step 7, you will have completed a 'rod of transformation' which will turn you into a furbolg. It isn't a difficult quest - just lots of running about

You can continue to about Step 10 (for the xp), but past that you will lose the rod. Otherwise you can keep it and become one of these -

All my Alliance characters are going to get this before the Cataclysm and Ashenvale is Hordi-fied!

The 'lock is leveling

I'm still toying with which of the Alliance gang to work on to max level, but had decided to move Frothe out of the semi-twink state she's been in. The 10-19's were fun, but with the xp in BGs, the need to twink or not is gone for me.

So, she dinged 20 and has her new mount - 'locks are so cool - who needs a saddle or bridle for a fire-filled demonic horse!
And new demonic fiendy - Domanda - the succubus the boys love to have out!
New spells, questing and of course more PvP time - if you like PvP, playing a gnome is a must as they're PvP magnets! Frothe originally was created to annoy my 'gnome-hating-red-is-dead' PvP oriented daughter! Just playing Alliance makes her grind her teeth - a gnome is pure torture!

Otherwise, Frothe will likely do a bit of leveling in BG's as well as instance runs for gear. There are certain quest lines/areas, I enjoy so I won't miss those.

Acheivement-wise, I doubt I'll go full out like I've been doing with Sithi - too much time to get them all! But, I am debating changing her professions, as she has been herbalism/engineering for the benefits at 19. I'm thinking she'll drop herbalism in favor of tailoring. I have enough others that do gathering professions and tailoring may be beneficial for her.

Frothe is coming up on her 2 year birthday during Brewfest, being the second character I created when I first started on WoW, she's one of the two that have the Wolpertinger (didn't play during Brewfest last year - deep in Warhammer lust!), so she'll have to do something special at the end of the month!

Quest torture?

The quest line from Librarian Normantis ending with The Art of Persuasion has been a bit controversial in the online press. From a gaming perspective I didn't have the problem or issue with it so many do (ex. should we have the right to say no, I won't torture for you?) and have completed it on both the Alliance and Horde side.
It does seem though there is a mild slam on the US governments policies with 'prisoners' and the use of Rendition by the CIA. I'm not a political blogger, but seeing Americans lose our freedom almost daily is disturbing in itself - so not going to rant here or it would be long!!!
Should we have a 'right' to make a political stand in-game? It could be interesting, but unless its going to shape your future or change the outcome somehow I don't know that it's necessary. There are quests I skip for various reasons (I hate killing the pretty blue butterflies on Bloodmyst Island for one), so don't do a quest if you don't want! There are plenty of other things to do in WoW!

If you 'choose' not to do this one, all you're losing is a bit of xp and rep with the Kirin Tor. It's not like a game breaker.
Personally, I hate kidnapping and killing for the Kula'uk more in that rep grind than this quest! Besides it's war - we kill, maim, beat, stab, burn, dismember daily this quest didn't seem any more horrific than most of the quests.

Weekend fun

It was Alteric Valley weekend. Sooo - lots of AV's played, to the point Sas leveled from 75.5 to 77 with no problem. As I love BGs (win/lose/tie) I'm still thrilled about the leveling xp available now. The only down side - the level 80's want quick for the marks to requeue, the 'levelers' want a drawn out game as the xp for taking objectives in the mid-70's is 18-20K.

As Sassi reached the magic flying number, she can no get around Northrend much easier, although she's having the same issue - artisan is not paid for, just cold-weather. Still, it's better than ground transport!Here's how she exited Dalaran - out the sewer drain - levitate ftw!!
Right now she's parked in Dragonblight when not out working her Kalu'ak rep grind. As I didn't do Dragonblight on Sithi, I'm going to do both the Horde and Alliance side pretty much at the same time.

Sithi leveled so fast she has all of Dragonblight, Grizzly Hills, Sholazar, Zul'Drak, and Storm Peaks. I'm going to hop back/forth Alliance/Horde in those areas.

The two DK's, Greaf (Alliance) and Biya (Horde) are going to be the next to level at least to 70. I'm not sure I have any great plans on max level with them, but they're both herbing/inscription so I want them high enough to be able to harvest their own herbs in Northrend.

Biya bought her pretty flying mount (lvl 60 flying is fantastic!)
After those two, I'm going to work on the Horde hunter and for Alliance - narrowed to pally, shammy, lock or druid - is that narrowed? lol

Everyone over lvl 20 has mounts now, although I tend to forget that they do at times. The flying, I swear it's the best part of WoW at times.

Stormwind

I love finding the fun off the wall things in games. I'm not sure they're classed quite as an Easter egg, but I'm always tickled when I find them!

Example this seemingly innocent house in Stormwind leads to ...
Cut Throat Alley! Why is it there? I've never leveled a rogue that was the only thing I could think of, but according the the wiki - its just an unpopulated place. Why?


Scenic harbor tours?

Speak to Thargold Ironwing for a gryphon flight around the harbor. I discovered this last month, but honestly don't recollect how long it's been in game!
What's behind the giant 'Gate' in the harbor? It looks like the one in Stranglethorn Vale that the Defias have their cave/harbor behind.

Hello Dalaran - Horde side!

Sassi dinged 74, and received the invite quest to head to Dalaran. (I know I'm weird, but no early ports - they have to earn in the hard way!)

So, off she went.

I was very intrigued to see the 'Horde' digs, as the Alliance side are a but austere and boring. Well the Horde's seem much larger and grander - even the bone strewn main hall with the African themed music.

The inn keeper even titled 'The Beast' was very Horde! I don't think I'd try to get past her - since when did Orc's come in Super-size?

Sas, took the tour picking up her first cooking and fishing daily (both in Dalaran ftw!) - Infused Mushroom Meatloaf and Jewel of the Sewers, so knocked those out quickly. Earning a couple more Achievements with Jewel being her 1000th quest completed. Considering she's NOT exalted with any races there are a whole bunch of quests to still do!

Off to Silvermoon for training her new skills, and a few Battlegrounds before heading back to Warsong Hold in preparation for the next leveling session.

I'm not sure if I mentioned this in a past post or not, but I'm following Jame's Horde Leveling Guide over at Wow-pro.com. I've used parts of his leveling guides before and one day I'm going to role a new character on a new server and follow the whole thing completely through. Jame does a great job of combining quest circuits to maximize xp and minimize travel back and forth.

Check it out, lots of useful guides for leveling and instances.