100th Post: The Infestation of Peddlefeet

As I was firing up the editor, to rattle off a quick side-note about the crazy influx of Peddlefeet in and around Orgimmar, I noticed that this will be my 100th blog post.

Reading through the Valentines day 2010 story plots, it sounds like the scourge are on their way. Perfumes and colognes that are 'infused' with something odd. A lone detective looking into the changes and what maybe going around.

Notes:
Pilfering Perfume: The perfume cases are outside Orgimmar, between the entrance and the UC zeppelin landing.

Crushing the Crown depends on your level. My bank toon stayed in Orgimmar. My 80-lock had to go to Dalaran and basically fall off the Krasius Landing into the Sprayers.

I've only heard the v-day boss(es) are tough. Haven't played them yet. Looks like a good case for two macro's depending on who is attacking you.

• Hummel -> "/use perfume neutralizer"
  
• Baxter -> "/use cologne neutralizer"
  
• Frye -> no aggro table and uses both.
  

All can be stunned, so good place for lots of Conflagerate and Shadowflame stuns.

Best off there's like a .01% chance of a cool rocket sled drop.

The Making of WoW

I just followed a link to this article on EuroGamer today and started reading into this interview about World of Warcraft from last year. Very interesting stuff if you're into the game design aspect of Warcraft.

Warcraft Backgrounds

For the last few weeks, I have been enjoying the Blizzard Warcraft themed backgrounds. I went so far as to create an automated script to pull them down each day from the WorldofWarcraft web page. Putting this in either my Startup, or as a group policy on logon makes it so I never worry about getting the latest background.

This Month, Blizzard has slightly improved their wallpaper. Simple, but cool, the background includes a basic holiday calendar. Sundays stand-out in a different color, and then it lists each of the in-game holidays (Lunar Festival and Valentines).

Speaking of Valentines, it looks like they may be expanding the holiday a little. There some speculation around the quest "Something is in the Air (and it Ain't Love)". I would guess, maybe heading back into Naxx Plague wing, but??

Time to finish Classic Dungeonmaster

I just read on Wow - The Queue:

"Can Horde queue up for Stockades and Deadmines, and can Alliance queue up for Ragefire Chasm and Wailing Caverns?"

Assuming you're in the appropriate level range, yes! There's no threat of a bunch of Horde zoning out of the Stockades in the middle of Stormwind because the tool drops you back where you queued, not outside of the instance. It's a good opportunity to see content that normally would have been incredibly difficult to access.

EXCITING! I have 3 dungeons left to run for the Classic Dungeonmaster achievement. Now what does appropriate level mean? I know I can't use the summoning stone for Scarlet Monastery. Does that mean I'll need to run to Gnomeregan? Does that mean I'll need to wait for 5 lvl-80's, or will it group me with some level appropriate toons?

How shall I spend my Emblems of Frost?

As a casual player, the only times I see the inside of a raid instance are when I get lost or asked to fill-in for a dropped player. So, my chances of having high-end warlock attire are limited to those few drops in Heroic 5-man instances, seldom raiding experiences, and what I can buy.

Bring on the heroics. With 3.3, if you are ambitious and log on for about 1 hour each day, you can net 14 frost emblems by doing the random daily dungeon. If you time it well, you can add the regular (weekly) raid along and net 5 more emblems.

Last month, I broke down and purchased the Tier-10 shoulders for 60 emblems. This was the best upgrade for me at the time. Now, I am back up to 40 and want to start planning for the next big purchase. At this time, I am considering replacing my chest piece. Already broke the Tier-9 4-piece bonus when I replaced the helm, then shoulders.

Here is my concerns:

1. There are two chest pieces available for 95 Frost.
   
2. Meteor Chaser's Raiment and the Tier10 Dark Coven Robe
   
3. The Raiment is the stronger piece, but
   
4. The Dark Coven is needed to buy the next upgrade the Sanctified Dark Coven Robe (which is an even better upgrade).
   
5. In addition to the robe, I need a Conqueror's mark, which you only get from raid drops.
   
6. I share the same mark, with 2 other classes.
   

So, considering that I seldom get into raids, should I go for the one-time better MC Raiment? or shall I hold out hope that I might get into some ICC25 for the Santified marks to drop??

Only in Vent do you learn the truth.

Found this over at the Blizzard comics contest page. Reminds me of a raid instance, when I first spoke into the mic. I suppose it was I was always complaining about waking the kids, or having to deal with one barfing on the carpet in the middle of the raid. Due to the configuration of our house, I seldom, if ever spoke in vent. One day, kids were out I first spoke, someone said "who is this?". "It's ME, Elk!". "Oh, I thought you were a woman".

Warlock DPS Spreadsheet for 3.3 (and more)

I was approached by a friend today asking for my input on Warlock theorycrafting. Oooo, honored! Anyway, her guild has told her that she needs to improve her DPS. She's got a lot of end-game raiding drops, so I am really surprised.

Here are my suggestions to her:

1. Review gemming priority. Focus on spell power when ever possible. Get rid of the mixed gems that are just there to get socket bonus (per MC Flowchart)


2. Try out different talents/gear combination's using a spreadsheet like: DPS Spreadsheet.


3. Replace outdated or missing gems per Wow Heroes


4. Purchase badge gear where possible, everyone should check out the Brimstone Igniter and Tier-10 "Dark Coven Shoulderpads". 25 Triumph and 60 Frost are not THAT hard to get.


5. Be Imba (see link on sidebar) is working on a similar report. Nice details.

Beware of sites like MaxDPS.COM and LootRank.com. They only work off the raw numbers and not actual combination equipment. For example, MaxDPS is saying the #1 in-slot head is the what I have equipped (Hood of Smoldering Aftermath) and not the Dark Coven Hood. I am guessing the math thinks everyone is below the hit cap.

Not sure if this is true, but I thought the only way to see Tier-10 warlock gear was the vendor inside the ICC raid instance. According to WowHead, I can purchase these pieces from Rueben Lauren in Dalaran. That would definitely make it easier to purchase. No more forming a 2 person raid group.

:)