Patch 5.3 interview with Ghostcrawler
Mystery of the Unborn Val'kyr
The latest patch 5.3 news
All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsThe Queue: Pony games
by Adam Holisky 
Jan 27th 2010 at 11:00AM
The above is a screenshot from Free Realms. Dancing ponies are not exactly my thing, but god knows we've talked about them enough. So I think after this screenshot, I'm never going to ask for a pony again. Forget it.
Instead I'll be asking Ghostcrawler for a moose. I encourage you all to as well.
Ghostcrawler promised me a moose.
Eddy asked...
"Can you lose achievements? I just got the Loremaster of EK and Kalimdor achievements and I keep reading things on Wowhead about how such and such quest used to count, how people's quest count changed... and I'm a little anxious about them. If Blizzard changes whether, say, a particular quest counts for EK or Kalimdor and messes up my totals, would the achievement disappear?"
Right now, once you have an achievement you have it for good. I don't anticipate Blizzard changing their stance on this anytime soon. However the idea of permutable achievements does sound cool -- think if the guild with the most players online at any one time all got the title "of the Crowded," or the player online with the most non-buffed HP got "the Tank." But those are not necessarily achievements as much as titles (much like the current arena titles are implemented).
Either way, for now -- you're safe. No chance of having an achievement removed by normal gameplay means.
Sprinte asked...
"Why did the Lich King never launch a counteroffensive against the Horde and Alliance? He seems to have been on the defensive the entire expansion. A friendly visit to Dalaran could have been great fun. Think of the chaos!"
Who says he's not going to go to Dalaran? Maybe he'll meet up with Jaina and some undead form of Kael'thas and they'll all sit around and pine about how they hate and love each other. I won't continue where this story goes... but what I'm trying to say (for real) is that we don't know that Arthas is done yet.
As for him being on the defensive most of the expansion, we can assume that's because he's had the problems at the Wrathgate, as well as the major offensive he had prior to Wrath's release. That's a lot to happen to any nation state (even a terrorist one like Arthas'), so I don't think anyone should be too surprised nothing has happened yet.
Besides, there's a Cataclysm on the horizon...
And Shade? You win one internets today. Congrats!
Tim asked...
"Does Blizzard hate trolls? We have plenty if backstory, which I am thankful for. It's just that players kill so many of them in the game. Who knows how many troll themed instances there are? I know I don't. It seems Blizzard wants us to enjoy killing them."
No, Blizzard doesn't hate trolls. They also have you kill tons of humans, elves, and other creatures. They don't have you kill enough gnomes however. Clearly Blizzard loves gnomes.
Kyrro asked...
"Does weaponskill have any effect to casters? Would I do better with 400 skillpoints staves than 1 skillpoint in staves?"
Nope. The only thing weapon skills will reward you with is an achievement. Although if you are a caster and can use a wand, I suggest having that skill be maxed. You never know when you'll want to play with your wand...
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 4 of 8)
Sanguinarius Jan 27th 2010 11:27AM
Here's a question: What happened to Kel' Thuzad? I mean, i know we killed him in Naxx, but never destroyed his phylactery. So this means he's still potentially a threat, aye? A friend of mine tossed out the idea that IF the Lich King is permanently slain at the final encounter in ICC, all his minions would die as well. This is of course, not a sure thing and besides, wasn't KT raised by the Sunwell? Soooo.....what do y'all think? Loose end? Final encounter before we face the King? Lurking threat that may surface again in Cataclysm?
Phil Jan 27th 2010 11:35AM
False. Again, no one paying attention to the cutscene in Halls of Reckoning. Uther spells it out for you: if the Lich King dies, the Scourge will run rampant over Azeroth without anyone to control them.
His more intelligent minions would more than likely find themselves completely free of the Lich King's influence until such time as the new Lich King as crowned.
Cyrus Jan 27th 2010 11:42AM
Loose end, it looks like. The importance of phylacteries seems pretty random. We cared about Kel'Thuzad's in vanilla WoW but not now, we don't care about Lady Deathwhisper's or Naberius' or Novos'...
Vickitt Jan 27th 2010 11:51AM
There's a cut scene in HoR?
One of these days, I need to solo it or something to keep my group from skipping it.
Strahl Jan 27th 2010 11:54AM
NAXXRAMAS WAS MERELY A SETBACK!
Sorry, felt obligatory...
Sanguinarius Jan 27th 2010 11:57AM
Uther could certainly be wrong. NPCs in WoW have been wrong in the past. Quite often actually. Especially when other powers intervene. Yes Algalon, i'm talking to YOU. STEP AWAY FROM THE RED BUTTON!
All that aside, I hope they address the issue of what happened to KT with a good twist. He's an interesting character with quite a bit of lore.
Starsmore Jan 27th 2010 2:06PM
@Phil, really:
You mean there are cutscenes in there? I thought it was just a convinient place for a bio break.
...so you're telling me there's story in all the randoms we run? ;)
PvtDeth Jan 27th 2010 4:53PM
What Uther says is in direct contradiction with numerous things said in the Matthias Lehner quest chain. One or more NPCs have to be wrong here.
I would think that during the time between the current Lich King's "death" and the crowning of the next one, especially powerful undead like Kel'Thuzad would be able to break free in a somewhat similar way to the Forsaken. That brings up interesting questions. Would the Forsaken welcome any new members, or would they adopt the, "I'm the last one in the door," mentality of many real life groups. Think about a large wave of immigrants who then reject later immigrants.
Also, I question whether or not Kel would want to be free. He may rather just follow the new Lich King regardless of his new master's motives.
Destiny's hand Jan 27th 2010 11:32AM
During the scourge invasion, why didn't Arthas go to the kodo graveyard in desolace? I know the place is boring, but he'd have better watchdogs for his front door instead of a few dozen death knights. I'm sure even Tirion and Darion would have a hard time killing a 50 ft tall dinosaur skeleton that can shoot dark lighting at you from 100 yds away.
If arthas loses I'd say it's because he didn't fortify his army enough with the thunder lizards
cendrekai Jan 27th 2010 11:32AM
how do authenticators work? My sister bought her and myself one. I expected it to be like a USB you put into your comp but it is not. How does the computer know that those digits are the ones you need to put in? It makes no sense to me.
Phil Jan 27th 2010 11:39AM
First hit on google pointed me to: http://forums.wow-europe.com/thread.html?topicId=4672769224&sid=1
Joseph Smith Jan 27th 2010 11:39AM
I can't speak to the exact mechanics, as i don't work at Vasco, but the basic premise is that every x seconds, a calculation is performed to come up with the 6 digit number (8 on mobile apps). This number is based on a calculation that is unique to YOUR serial number, that's why you have to sync it when you first apply it. After that, the calculation is done on the back end server and on your keychain, as long as both come up with the same number (which they should) then you're authenticated and can log in. If you wait too long after the number disappears, then it's moved on to another calculation, resulting in a different number and you're not authenticated.
Duts Jan 27th 2010 11:41AM
One word - MAGIC!
Cataca Jan 27th 2010 12:43PM
Without actually looking it up because I'm lazy...XD
The way I understand it is that your authenticator has a date stored inside it that we can't see or display that is unique to your authenticator alone. For example say the date inside it's Nov 5,1955.
Now on the back of the authenticator is a serial number. When you link your acct to the authenticator you have to tell blizz this serial number. Using this serial number, blizz can see what date is in your authenticator.
Your authenticator is keeping track of how many minutes has past since that date. It takes how many minutes has past since then and encrypts it to display. That is the number that you get when you push the button.
So when you type in that number at the log in screen it sends Blizz the number of minutes that has past from the date in the authenticator. Blizz then takes that number and compares it to theirs, grating you permission to log in if they are the same.
The reason it isn't connected to your computer is that if it was, hackers could potentially get your date from the authenticator, allowing them to log in.
cendrekai Jan 27th 2010 1:58PM
I am agreeing with Duts, that seems like magic to me. So, from what I understand.
Even when i am not clicking my authenticator, a number is still being formed on the server? and this happens constantly. and it just so happens, if I DO decide to use my auth. the little bits in the auth. know through some math or the other that it should be on round xxx of making a random number which matches round xxx of the server.
Or...unicorns maybe?
jbodar Jan 27th 2010 10:29PM
Similar to:
Time-synchronized one-time passwords
A time-synchronized one-time passwords change constantly at a set time interval, e.g. once per minute. To do this some sort of synchronization must exist between the client's token and the authentication server. For disconnected tokens this time-synchronization is done before the token is distributed to the client, other token types do the synchronization when the token is inserted into an input device. The main problem with time-synchronized tokens is that they can, over time, become unsynchronized.[citation needed] However, some such systems, such as RSA's SecurID, allow the user to resynchronize the server with the token, sometimes by entering several consecutive passcodes. Most also cannot have replaceable batteries and only last up to 3 years before having to be replaced - so there is additional cost.
Vasco's DigiPass
VASCO's Digipass series have either a small keyboard where the user can enter a PIN or either a single button, in addition it generates a new one-time password after a pre-set time. US patent: 4599489 and 4609777.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_token
Phil Jan 27th 2010 11:33AM
"Why did the Lich King never launch a counteroffensive against the Horde and Alliance? He seems to have been on the defensive the entire expansion. A friendly visit to Dalaran could have been great fun. Think of the chaos!"
Uther already answered this. Only the little bit of Arthas that remains in the Lich King (an ever-dwindling presence) is keeping him from wiping out everyone and everything now.
SpaceGoatPriest Jan 27th 2010 11:34AM
"Maybe he'll meet up with Jaina and some undead form of Kael'thas...."
As a player on Kael'thas, I support this :D
He could be like the Black Knight (who has "3" lives, well 4 kinda), "I don't need bones to best you!" The way I see it, Kael'thas still have at least 2 lives left. And his rez timer is definitely up by now.
Phil Jan 27th 2010 11:44AM
"Magister's Terrace was merely a setback!"
Jason Jan 27th 2010 11:34AM
WTB a Gnome instance that isn't 3/4 Troggs and Robots...