It's not on the beta servers yet -- which means the facts are still sketchy -- but there's information from a new beta (build 12857) up on MMO-Champion that includes a number of new items for archaeology and inscription. Archaeology item descriptions offer intriguing hints of things that may be, without any solid details on the items. Some examples:

• Bone Gaming Dice Dwarves love gold and dwarves love drinking, so gaming seemed like a natural fit for both. These dice appear to have been carved from sheep bones. What might be dried blood is still visible on the 5 pip.
• Cloak Clasp with Antlers This clasp is fashioned of lacquered wood carved to resemble stag antlers. On the reverse is engraved the name "Pyramond" in Darnassian.
• Fossilized Hatchling When you finished assembling this tiny skeleton through some eldritch magic, the little critter sprang back to life. He's a pretty good pet. Since he's a skeleton he doesn't eat much.
• Wooden Whistle A small whistle carved from oak. It might have been used to summon a pet or mount or possibly used as a child's toy. It appears to have been chewed on by an animal or young dwarf.

While there are just as many nondescript inscription items listed, some have more detail:

• Cataclysm Reclamation: Blacksmithing Allows you to rewrite blacksmithing plans from once-lost recipe fragments.
• Cataclysm Reclamation: Enchanting Allows you to rewrite blacksmithing plans from once-lost recipe fragments.
• Cataclysm Reclamation: Jewelcrafting Allows you to rewrite jewelcrafting plans from once-lost recipe fragments.
• Cataclysm Reclamation: Leatherworking Allows you to rewrite leatherworking plans from once-lost recipe fragments.
• Cataclysm Reclamation: Tailoring Allows you to rewrite tailoring plans from once-lost recipe fragments.
• Felfire Inscription Permanently adds 130 Intellect and 25 haste rating to shoulder armor.Can only be applied to your own armor, and doing so will cause it to become soulbound.
• Inscription of the Earth Prince Permanently adds 195 Stamina and 25 dodge rating to shoulder armor.Can only be applied to your own armor, and doing so will cause it to become soulbound.
• Lionsmane Inscription Permanently adds 130 Strength and 25 critical strike rating to shoulder armor.Can only be applied to your own armor, and doing so will cause it to become soulbound.
• Swiftsteel Inscription Permanently adds 130 Agility and 25 mastery rating to shoulder armor.Can only be applied to your own armor, and doing so will cause it to become soulbound.

Check out the full list of updated profession items at MMO-Champion.

Filed under: Cataclysm, Archaeology

Cataclysm doesn't even have a release date yet (though Blizzard insists it's coming out in 2010), but I'm already getting tired of it. Live servers seem like ghost towns and the blogosphere is Cataclysm-obsessed (ourselves included). It's hard not to get excited about new content, but wherever you turn it's talk of the beta, discussion of changes that may never go live and above all, anticipation. But I just want to be able to play World of Warcraft again. Can't we all just shut up about Cataclysm for long enough to run instances? Do raids? Group quests? Anything? Please?

So sound off, readers -- are you, too, tired of the endless hype around WoW's next expansion? Do you miss being able to play World of Warcraft?

Filed under: Breakfast Topics

Every week, just at the start of the weekend, we catch up with the WoW.com staff and ask them, "What are you playing this week?" (Otherwise known as WRUP!) Join us to see what we're up to in and out of game -- and catch us in the comments to let us know what you're playing, too!

I have to admit it: I'm just not into all of the StarCraft 2 hype. It's a bit awkward since practically everyone I know -- and a lot of the WoW.com staff -- seems to be excited about SC2 above all else. So I'm attempting to turn things around, at least for the duration of this post, with this week's WRUP. In addition to asking what everyone's playing this weekend, I've asked for everyone's thoughts on the ongoing Cataclysm beta test. Well, it might have taken their minds off SC2 for a minute, at least ...

Everyone's answers -- and your chance to add your own -- after the break.

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Filed under: WoW Insider Business

Every week, just at the start of the weekend, we catch up with the WoW.com staff and ask them, "What are you playing this week?" (Otherwise known as: WRUP!) Join us to see what we're up to in and out of game -- and catch us in the comments to let us know what you're playing, too!

Cataclysm hasn't arrived yet, and in the meanwhile, the WoW.com team is musing over what they need to get done before it does. And for once, there's something we (mostly) agree on: before Cataclysm comes, take a tour of the Plaguelands. Do the quests and run the dungeons, because there are some fantastic stories there that we'll never see again. But for what everyone's playing this weekend -- and the occasional non-Plagueland suggestions for your pre-Cataclysm to-do list, read on.

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Filed under: WoW Insider Business

Here at WoW.com, we're on a Daily Quest (which we try to do every day, honest) to bring you interesting, informative and entertaining WoW-related links from around the blogosphere.

Remember running Scholomance a hundred times just to try to get that last piece of Dreadmist? And no one ever wanting to bother killing Jandice because she was optional and annoying? (It's true: I'm speaking from personal experience.) Times and loot tables may have changed, but we're still a bit gear-obsessed. So, for today's quest, here's what's been going 'round the blogosphere about gear.

• Blessing of Fish talks about why our gear is special.
• Larísa at the Pink Pigtail Inn is on the hunt for a decent cloak.
• Relevart's Druid Reliquary talks about epic gear feeling epic.
• Cynwise points out an important question from the recent dev chat: will we be able to wear a monocle with our top hat?

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Is there a story out there we ought to link or a blog we should be following? Just leave us a comment, and you may see it here tomorrow! Be sure to check out our WoW Resources Guide for more WoW-related sites.

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Filed under: The Daily Quest

Here at WoW.com, we're on a Daily Quest (which we try to do every day, honest) to bring you interesting, informative and entertaining WoW-related links from around the blogosphere.

While we're all skulking about waiting for our servers to come up -- or skulking about on Shadow Council waiting for tonight's RP event -- it seems as good a time as any to talk about pretending to be people we aren't in places we aren't. (Secret: I'm not actually a troll shaman. But do keep it quiet.)

• Some oldies but goodies from Too Many Annas, covering being left out of RP and the many places RP can go.
• The Lazy Sniper talks about choosing names for characters.
• It may not be WoW-centric, but the latest issue of The Escapist is all about roleplaying.

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Is there a story out there we ought to link or a blog we should be following? Just leave us a comment, and you may see it here tomorrow! Be sure to check out our WoW Resources Guide for more WoW-related sites.

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Filed under: RP, The Daily Quest

Every week, just at the start of the weekend, we catch up with the WoW.com staff and ask them, "What are you playing this week?" (Otherwise known as: WRUP!) Join us to see what we're up to in and out of game -- and catch us in the comments to let us know what you're playing, too!

This week in addition to the eternal question of what everyone is playing this weekend, we've asked the staff the almost-as-eternal question of cake or pie or death? It's been a battle royale in The Queue this week with Anne declaring her love for pie and Adam followed up with a cake versus pie poll in which cake maintains a solid lead. So today, we ask our writers. Their thoughts on the best bakery confections along with what they're playing for the weekend after the break.

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Filed under: WoW Insider Business

If you weren't aware that a new Cataclysm beta build went live this week with updated talent trees for all classes ... well ... surprise! Though we can certainly expect more changes as the beta progresses (read: don't panic), this is our first look at Blizzard's new talent philosophy, coming to a server near you with Cataclysm. Now enough of my rambling on and let's get to the talents: Matt Sampson, Rich Maloy and Joe Perez provide analysis for the changes of each shaman tree.

[ Elemental ] [ Enhancement ] [ Restoration ]

Filed under: Shaman, Analysis / Opinion, (Shaman) Totem Talk

Every week, just at the start of the weekend, we catch up with the WoW.com staff and ask them, "What are you playing this week?" (Otherwise known as: WRUP!) Join us to see what we're up to in and out of game -- and catch us in the comments to let us know what you're playing, too!

There's been a hot-topic issue or two this week, and for today's WRUP we're going to skip the drama and ask everyone a simple question that has no wrong answers:



Answers from the team -- and what they're playing this weekend -- after the break.

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Filed under: WoW Insider Business

Every week, just at the start of the weekend, we catch up with the WoW.com staff and ask them, "What are you playing this week?" (Otherwise known as WRUP.) Join us to see what we're up to in and out of game -- and catch us in the comments to let us know what you're playing, too!

This week is all about stalking our co-workers Real ID. We knew what Real ID was before the patch hit, of course, but who among us could have been prepared for the flood of email it would bring to our virtual doorsteps? I do hope Blizzard is still working to improve their Real ID feature, but in the meanwhile, remember that you don't have to use it if you don't want to. Though anyone opting out isn't going to see me around after Diablo 3 is released ...

But on to the subject at hand: keep reading for a round-up of what the WoW.com staff is up to this weekend, in game and otherwise. A smattering of them even answered this week's bonus question and tell us about their favorite patch feature.

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Filed under: WoW Insider Business