The Queue: Strictly business.
by Michael Sacco 
Jan 8th 2010 at 8:00PM
Mourl asked...
Can addons affect the character select screen? Or any UI from the time you log in at the main title to screen to the point you "Enter World" on your character?
Nope, because AddOns don't load until you log into the game with a character. Nothing can pretty up your character selection screen, save for Blizzard.
Rowan asked...
Whats the final, or any word really, on 3.4? I've seen one blue poster hint at something between 3.3 and 4.0, as well as WoW.com also implying or referencing it several times. Then again, I've read elsewhere 3.3 is it and now we're waiting for Cataclysm. What kind of patch would it be anyways? Heaven forbid T11 but, with Arthas coming in a few weeks, and Cataclysm coming who knows when - how is Blizzard going to keep us all entertained those few months?
There may be a small patch before 4.0, according to developers, but it's not likely to be a new raid tier or anything like that. It'll likely add few Cataclysm features that are ready to go live, bug fixes, possibly a one-shot raid boss, that kind of thing. Blizzard has expressed over and over that 3.3 is the last major patch of the Wrath cycle.
Ilmyrn asked...
Are we ever going to see Ask a Faction Leader back? That was easily my favorite recurring column.
AAFL makes its triumphant return this Tuesday. Even faction leaders need Winter Veil vacations, after all.
BGO asked...
Can I buy authenticators in IRL stores? I live in a remote area and Blizz doesn't ship to PO Boxes. They also do not take debit cards for payments (but yet you can pay for WoW with one).
As of right now, authenticators are only available online at the Blizzard Store. It's possible that we'll see them in retail outlets at some point, especially if they become mandatory.
Hope asked...
I'm trying to find a good elemental shaman blog or guide. I'm actually raiding endgame right now, but I still have questions about gear, and I'm not comfortable with rawr. Any tips?
I'm actually not aware of any good Elemental-focused blogs or guides, but starting Monday, Totem Talk will have an Elemental version, written by yours truly.
Have questions about the World of Warcraft? The WoW.com crew is here with The Queue, our daily Q&A column! Leave your questions in the comments and we'll do our best to answer 'em!Filed under: The Queue
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
Velzak Jan 8th 2010 8:03PM
Again, Any word on if Patches of Yesteryear is coming back ever?
Jonathan Jan 8th 2010 9:11PM
This! As someone who didn't start until Echoes of Doom, that feature seemed awesome, but it died pretty much immediately.
tonedeff Jan 8th 2010 9:09PM
Would love to see this come back, as im sure most readers would!
epsilon343 Jan 8th 2010 9:29PM
I was enjoying reading those. I first started playing WoW during the AQ war effort (whatever that patch was) and then came back a little after Burning Crusade launched so a lot of the history of WoW and how it evolved is lost on me.
Tyvic Jan 8th 2010 11:48PM
I would very much like this is as well. I
Drakkenfyre Jan 9th 2010 12:54AM
http://www.wowwiki.com/Patches
Scroll to the bottom, knock yourself out.
I am not being snide towards you, as the feature was nice, but since it's been delayed over and over again, there is the page with all of the patch notes.
PvtDeth Jan 9th 2010 3:48AM
@ Drakkenfyre: It's not just a matter of reading the patch notes. The game at different times has had a very different feel. I've read patch notes before that seemed unremarkable, then later realized that one of the additions was gamechanging.
A snapshot of what the game was like is very useful for historical and nostalgic reasons.
Rhornez Jan 8th 2010 8:07PM
why are warriors so awsome?
Matthew Rossi Jan 8th 2010 8:39PM
I'll field this one.
BECAUSE.
Hansbo Jan 9th 2010 4:02AM
They are strong, and even larger than your avarage class or tank.
MusedMoose Jan 9th 2010 10:04AM
Because warriors pick their teeth with Illidan's horns, or at least they did while Illidan was still alive.
Because warriors know that the best way to get something's attention and keep it is by punching it in the face. If they can't reach the face, warriors will aim for the crotch.
Because warriors bathe in lava and wash their hair with the blood of their slain enemies. Golem remains are great for exfoliation.
Because warriors never actually lose on loot rolls - they just let other classes think they rolled higher so they'll still feel good about themselves.
Because warriors would wield three-handed weapons if they existed. The only reason they don't exist is that the only ones awesome enough to forge three-handed weapons are in fact warriors, and they're too busy being awesome to spend time forging.
^_^
Fletcher Jan 9th 2010 5:30PM
Also because Super-Titan's Grip requires about a billion talent points, and the only race that can use three-handers without it is abominations. Happy Entrails!
Zalvi24 Jan 8th 2010 8:13PM
YAY, cant wait for monday , i need my elemental shaman fix............ /scratches neck
Zerounit Jan 8th 2010 8:24PM
There's also a blog I found the other day, Planet of the Hats. He maintains the ZAP! spreadsheet so there's a good bit of theorycrafting.
talkingmike Jan 8th 2010 8:35PM
My feet are strong!
CiM Jan 8th 2010 9:48PM
Planet of the Hats is me! --> http://wowhats.wordpress.com/ There's what I hope is a quite accessible and user-friendly "beginner's guide" as well as some more advanced stuff discussed when I have the time. Black Magic vs Greater Spellpower? Should you use Chain Lightning? Is it ever better to wait for Lava Burst's cooldown or should one always fire off another Lightning Bolt? Current TCed Icecrown BiS lists? And so forth.
Aftermathmatical Jan 8th 2010 8:14PM
To BGO
You CAN use debit cards, they work just likie credit cards even if blizzard doesnt have a specific debit card part on the site. Thats how I paid for mine. Try it out, it'll work...
of course not sure about your 'remote area' unless its another country. You should be able to get one.
If not that, then I'd find a close guildmate who you could trust enough to ship it to and then have him mail it to a PO box for you.
Melithine Jan 8th 2010 8:19PM
What this poster said. I ordered one for me, one for the wife, and one for a friend, all with a debit card.
Spazmoose Jan 8th 2010 10:05PM
Usually you can use debit cards just like credit cards (you just choose the credit card option usually, and proceed as normal), though there are times when banks will not allow you to use them as a credit card (which can happen when the card holder is not yet 18+ in the US). To skirt around this issue, many credit card manufacturers have come out with temporary "gift" credit cards, which are able to be used just like a normal credit card (I know at least Visa has one).
If that doesn't work for you, many credit card companies offer the ability to obtain a temporary or limited use card number, which you can get online from the company. I though PayPal offered a similar feature, but didn't find out from my quick look at their site (though I admit, I didn't search too hard).
As far as shipment is concerned, instead of trying to find a guildie to accept the shipment, I would recommend a local friend or relative, just make sure that you inform them of the package in advance.
Ozzard Jan 9th 2010 4:08AM
A Queue question, but also @Spazmoose:
Does anyone know Blizzard's policy on shipping items to other than a "safe" address registered on the card used for payment? At least in the EU, most companies will only ship to a card's billing address or to another address that the cardholder has registered with the card issuer. This is to prevent *credit card* fraud - otherwise, it's possible to use a stolen card and get the goods sent to yourself rather than the cardholder.
If this is also Blizzard's approach, you won't be able to ship to an address other than the cardholder's address.
When I ship authenticators to guildies, I pay for the token with my card, get it shipped to my address and ship it on. The guildie finds some way to repay me, generally via PayPal.