MikeJL Blog - WoW

New Amory Updates

nospam@example.com (Mike) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 02:08:44 -0700

New update to WoW Armory added some very cool features. Like a 3d model viewer

You can setup your character to "strike that pose". Very cool.

Capped!

nospam@example.com (Mike) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:40:53 -0700

December 2009.. I hit level cap (level 80) with my Orc Warlock.

So I WIN at WoW! Only a few times playing MMOs have I hit max level (third time in WoW and only other MMO was SWG). This is my first level 80. So Grimgar is retired in Orgrimmar for now.

On the way leveling I saved enough gold to get my Orc Death Knight a flying mount

and the ability to fly when he got to Northrend.

New Orc DK (and possible new main) ...

I decide not to take my oldest main (a Mage who was the first character I got to 60 in old WoW) to Northrend as I played cloth casters for most of my time in WoW. So the plate wearing Death Knight is a blast.
DK is just bad ass; plate wearing, have a pet Ghoul, their own special mounts and great some spells and abilities.

So off to play in Northrend and play the few zones I skipped with Grimgar. Except to do the quests to get Axe of Frozen Death in Borean Tundra.

So 2010 will be plate wearing year.

Getting a WOW in WoW. The Wrathgate Quest

nospam@example.com (Mike) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 09:06:37 -0700

Came back to WoW for a few reasons; one is the PvE content. As WoW has grown older the quests have gotten better and Wrathgate caught me by surprise.

I’m out running some quests and totally unknowing I was into the Wrathgate quest chain and found my self getting a cut scene.

Very cool, I though. Gave a “cool” comment in guild chat and was told there was lots more to come. And there was.

I’m not going to cover every step however what starts as a loss of a Saurfang the younger. (The Orc who dies in the cut-scene) starts an epic battle to take back the Undercity. It you fighting with Thrall, Vol'jin and Lady Sylvanas Windrunner.

After done that part of the word is changed (we see more of the phased instancing). I was lucky to watch my daughter do the same quest chain (so I got to see it twice).

What a fantastic quest! It really nailed home how great PvE is in WoW.

Finally get to nail Onyxia

nospam@example.com (Mike) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 23:31:58 -0700

Onyxia that sly girl, for years I never completed the quests line to be able to take her on. Happily they removed it some time ago.

Still was not a solo job; a few of us in Brothers of Honor decided to get the achievement before she get buffed to 80 in the next patch. So my daughter and I went analog with a small group to take her down.

Here are a few pics...

Running in..

Grouping up for fight.

Enough time for a good screenshot.

The fight .. was short.

Whitehoof and I with our new trophy.

Grimgar and Whitehoof, Scourge of the North

nospam@example.com (Mike) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:26:37 -0700

Whitehoof the Huntress (left) and Grimgar the Warlock (right)

Grimgar and Whitehoof teamed-up on a list of group quests in Dragonblight. After completion we both got Sarathstra, Scourge of the North.

Early in the week I witnesses three others try this and all get turned into dragon chow. I lean over and tell her about the last time I witnessed this fight. We agreed to give it a try and go down fighting.

I had my voidwalker out and we have the quest NPC call this huge skeleton dragon down on us. Our plan .. my void tank and we (mostly her) DPS. What we though would be a short fight lasted way longer and we ended up victorious.

My void tanked the dragon and all I really could do it keep up a curse of weakness and corruption, and keep my health funnel smashed on at ALL times. I think my Improved Health Funnel really shined.

Whitehoof and her pet did brilliant DPS, they never pulled aggro off my void, however they really packed a punch. What was a five man group on a 75 elite; we did as two (with pets) at levels 72 and 74.
We cheered out loud, did a few high fives when she went down.

One of our best WoW moments together.

Weekend Hit-List

nospam@example.com (Mike) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:07:27 -0700

Grimgar departed Agmar’s Hammer and braved the chill winds to explore the vast graveyard called Dragonblight.
Thanking the dark gods for the warmth from the fires of his dreadsteed; Grimgar heads out to face the unknown.

Coming back home to WoW I forgot how much I really love the open world MMO. Only three MMOs have this openness; Vanguard, LOTRO and WoW. And looking back on playing AoC and Warhammer I can see the difference. I love the vast expanses and exploring and moving seamlessly from one area to another. Running across a random camp withe a few quests.

Also looking forward to the weekend. Daughter and I are going to team-up and take on a three very tough foes who are wanted in the local hub of Agmar’s Hammer.
Wanted: Gigantaur
Wanted: Dreadtalon
Wanted: Magister Keldonus

We got our hit list now its time to hunt!

Move to Battle.net and new Authenticator

nospam@example.com (Mike) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:40:57 -0700

Coming back to WoW I recalled when a few friends and guildies who got hacked year or so ago. One friend I know did not load any “odd” add-ons. Think some where just visiting a site and getting a key logger.

I immediately recalled the Blizzard WoW Authenticator. Was about to purchase one, then found an article that WoW accounts will be moving to the new battle.net someday. You also will need one to play Diablo 3, when it releases, and I do plan to get. And found Blizzard did a free battle.net authenticator for my iPhone.

So I moved my WoW account over to battle.net and picked-up the battle.net authenticator for my iPhone. Now login to WoW uses BN login plus the auth code (that changes every 60 seconds) off the authenticator.

So far no problems and hopefully an extra layer of security to keep my virtual treasures safe.

Back in Azeroth and also in Space

nospam@example.com (Mike) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:28:31 -0700

The Cataclysm expansion really blew me away. And defiantly drew my daughter and I back into Azeroth.
Why?
• Have a long history in WoW (was in on launch day).
• Daughter and I played before for a few years and have fun playing with her and it good to be back together ..

Daughter (huntress on left) and I Orc Warlock on Right .. out questing together.

This time in Northrend.
• I like to have a few characters at 80 when Cataclysm does arrive. Coming back now allows me to casually play, and level, and know there is good stuff coming.

I spent lots of time past year and half wandering from MMO to MMO and like lots of them. However WoW had been like a home. I even still in same guild Brothers of Honor since 2006.

The one single player RPG that still has me in its grips is Fallout 3; and I’m happy to be in its grasp. I downloaded the Mother ship Zeta DLC and started playing that content. It's awesome so far!

So I found my play time between WoW and Fallout 3.

WoW Cataclysm

nospam@example.com (Mike) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:33:03 -0700

The best disaster announced.. WoW Cataclysm expansion is just what I was looking for to happen to WoW. A redo on the old world and Goblins! And much more.

Either way we are heading back to Azeroth...

WoW Rumors

nospam@example.com (Mike) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:10:55 -0700

I have written off WoW for sometime spending time on AoC and WAR. However, based on the rumors posted I was thinking .. “if those become reality it could bring me back.”

Especially .. goblins and redoing over old world. Making it almost new to play my alts in. Also allow flying mounts in old world.

I still love to see:
- Player housing (custom to class and race)
- Outfit slots and armor dyes (I don’t want to look like every one else!)
- Wood working crafting (make bows arrows and items for housing)
- Ability to transfer stats form one item to another (like Runes of Magic)

Guess I’ll wait to see what gets announced at Blizcon this weekend.

Friday (8/21/09): Watching for news on www.wow.com.

It's true! Will look at the details however if it lives up to most of the rumors then I could be heading back to Azeroth.

Dug-up a link to an old WoW photo album

Old pics of MC, AQ, UBRS and just adventures in general.