WoW Insider http://wow.joystiq.com WoW Insider http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/wow.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif WoW Insider http://wow.joystiq.com prods@weblogsinc.com (Weblogs, Inc. Producers) (Weblogs, Inc. Web Support) en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. View our terms of service here: http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/ Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ <![CDATA[Breakfast Topic: Should alts remain secondary to a more developed main?]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/breakfast-topic-should-alts-remain-secondary-to-a-more-develope/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/breakfast-topic-should-alts-remain-secondary-to-a-more-develope/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/breakfast-topic-should-alts-remain-secondary-to-a-more-develope/#comments Breakfast Topic Should alts be secondary to a more developed main Ready to move all those alts through Mists of Pandaria? The XP reduction for levels 85 to 90 in patch 5.3 isn't something I'm particularly excited about. Leveling goes more than quickly enough for my taste. It's the part of the game I'm enjoying most these days, so why would I want less of it?

At its most basic, pushing players through the levels is a matter of character focus. In Mists of Pandaria, WoW turned away from spreading its affections amongst the so-called stable of alts in favor of encouraging a single main character. That's a compelling approach for players like me who enjoy running down the side streets and back alleyways of gameplay in search of every last way to improve a character. Players who leveled up during Blizzard's later era of streamlined leveling, however, are used to cutting a direct line to the finish with an expectation that they'll be able to maintain multiple characters all the way through the endgame.

What do you think about swinging the focus back to a single main character? Do you think bringing alts up to the same level of development as a main character should be easy, making them true alternatives to your primary character? Or should alts remain easy to level but harder to fully round out at 90?

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Breakfast Topic: Should alts remain secondary to a more developed main? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Mon, 20 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> altsfeaturedgame-discussiongamer-discussionmainmain-characterworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topics (Lisa Poisso) Mon, 20 May 2013 08:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Breakfast Topic: Are you a happy healer or a reluctant healer?]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/breakfast-topic-are-you-a-happy-healer-or-a-reluctant-healer/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/breakfast-topic-are-you-a-happy-healer-or-a-reluctant-healer/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/breakfast-topic-are-you-a-happy-healer-or-a-reluctant-healer/#comments Breakfast Topic Are you a happy healer or a reluctant healer I was smirking my way past the Gordon Ramsay-esque commentary on Twitter recently (go to the tweet to view it in all its unblurred, NSFW glory) when it struck me: Blizzard has created so many incentives to play a healer. Obviously, they've worked -- but are the healers enjoying it?

As a long-time healer, I find myself broken-hearted at the idea that players are going through the motions of healing simply because for the sake of faster random queue times or to fill a hole in a roster lineup. Healing by people who aren't passionate about healing? Healing by people who aren't glued to the action? Healing by people who might be watching "other things" on another screen, or eating pizza, or, or ...? Dear readers, we're talking about saving lives here. I weep. Seriously, I weep.

Still, there seem to be quite a lot of healers going about their business in today's game. If you're a healer, do you enjoy the role? Did you choose to be a healer of your own volition, or were you influenced by queue times, role benefits, or the needs of your raid or guild? If you were nudged into healing by outside forces, has it been worth it? Are you a happy healer or a reluctant healer?

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Breakfast Topic: Are you a happy healer or a reluctant healer? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Fri, 17 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussionhealer-incentiveshealingrole-incentivesrolesworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topics (Lisa Poisso) Fri, 17 May 2013 08:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Wowcrendor: The nice guy behind the biting machinima]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/wowcrendor-the-nice-guy-behind-the-biting-machinima/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/wowcrendor-the-nice-guy-behind-the-biting-machinima/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/wowcrendor-the-nice-guy-behind-the-biting-machinima/#comments One might expect a machinimist to be come at you with a rather snarky, biting personality, especially a creator who's known for poking fun at WoW player stereotypes. Not so Wowcrendor. Wowcrednor's a nice guy in the true sense of the word. He also happens to be funny -- funny enough, in fact, that the list of posts of his WoW machinima here at WoW Insider goes on for pages and pages.

So how does a nice guy who has fun making video game machinima end up making a living at it? We wondered, too, so we asked -- and nice guy that he is, Wowcrendor spilled all the beans.

WoW Insider: So you're living the dream, making a living making WoW videos. Congrats! How has that changed the way you play the game? Things must be quite different now.

Wowcrendor: It is really a dream come true. One day you're sitting in a college math class writing scripts about Mankrik's wife, and the next you're making a living off it. I don't think I ever saw it growing to the point it's grown to, but I'm thankful for it nonetheless.

As for how it's changed the way I play the game, I think it's actually impacted me negatively, as odd as that sounds. Before I made videos about the game, my sole focus was just having fun or getting involved in the virtual world of Azeroth. Now that I do this as a living, it really shifts your mindset. If I'm playing the game, I'm constantly thinking if something could be made into a video instead of actually focusing on enjoying the game. For example, before I started making videos, I raided in every expansion. I enjoyed raiding and even got to raid with the guy who inspired me to start making WoW videos, a surreal experience at the time.

Continue reading Wowcrendor: The nice guy behind the biting machinima

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Wowcrendor: The nice guy behind the biting machinima originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 16 May 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> crendorfacebookfeedfeaturedmachinimaworld-of-warcraft-interviewswow-communitywow-interviewswow-peoplewowcrendor (Lisa Poisso) Thu, 16 May 2013 09:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Breakfast Topic: What makes you love your favorite battleground?]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/breakfast-topic-what-makes-you-love-your-favorite-battleground/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/breakfast-topic-what-makes-you-love-your-favorite-battleground/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/breakfast-topic-what-makes-you-love-your-favorite-battleground/#comments Breakfast Topic What makes you love your favorite battleground Alterac Valley sets my towers aflame. I fell in love with AV during classic WoW, in those sprawling, drawn-out matches that spun out over a day or longer. With a big map and plenty of time, you can savor the micro-encounters that make up a true battle -- that exquisitely frozen moment when you come face to face with an opponent behind a bunker, the off-objective chase that neither of you will give up, the "happy" grudges that leave you seeking out the same opponent the moment you respawn. I gulp down that stuff like water. Objective-driven play has its appeal, but it's the serendipitous moment of connection with the enemy that really turns my flag.

I have a friend who adores siege weaponry. For him, PvP queuing means a beeline for Wintergrasp, Strand of the Ancients, or Isle of Conquest. That's fine. While he's staying busy with catapults and cannon, I'll be slowly throttling some newly met nemesis in the somber shadows behind the keep.

What do you enjoy most about your favorite battleground? Is it something that's there by design, or is it some player dynamic or bit of byplay that fires you up?

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Breakfast Topic: What makes you love your favorite battleground? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 16 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> battlegroundfeaturedgame-discussiongamer-discussionworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topics (Lisa Poisso) Thu, 16 May 2013 08:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Breakfast Topic: What the biggest graphical eyesore in today's WoW?]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/breakfast-topic-what-the-biggest-graphical-eyesore-in-todays-w/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/breakfast-topic-what-the-biggest-graphical-eyesore-in-todays-w/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/breakfast-topic-what-the-biggest-graphical-eyesore-in-todays-w/#comments Breakfast Topic What the biggest graphical eyesore in today's World of Warcraft If you'd ever care to observe a WoW player heat up to a slow boil and finally explode in a spectacular, spittle-flecked rage over a minor technical issue, find someone whose favorite character model suffers clipping issues. Most long-term players have a character who can't wear or wield a much-loved item because it does something annoying -- clips through their back, chops off their hair, or disappears into the ground. This is a shoulder-shrugger of an issue to me, but for players who want their favorites to look their best, graphics clipping is utterly incensing.

After eight years, we've had ample time to grow weary of the ugliest graphical glitches that persist in the game. The old character models get cited for a variety of abuses. Night elf hands/mittens, anyone? Creepy. Sometimes, it's their expressions -- the terrifying rictus on a female night elf when she's "smiling." Just look at that screenshot up there. Definitely zombie material. And I know this isn't a superficial issue, because I swim. Ever looked up the skirt of a robe-wearing class while they're swimming? You can see their brains.

Blizzard's deft art direction and over-the-top, cartoon-ish fantasy aesthetic smooths over a multitude of aging and sins, but at some point, rough edges simply refuse to stay hidden. What do you find to be the most appalling graphical eyesore in today's WoW? Is it part of the older character models or landscapes and dungeon textures? Is there some aspect of WoW's graphics that shouts "old and tired" every time you see it?

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Breakfast Topic: What the biggest graphical eyesore in today's WoW? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Mon, 13 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> character-modelsfeaturedgame-discussiongamer-discussiongraphicsworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topics (Lisa Poisso) Mon, 13 May 2013 08:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Breakfast Topic: How familiar are you with all the classes?]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/11/breakfast-topic-how-familiar-are-you-with-all-the-classes/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/11/breakfast-topic-how-familiar-are-you-with-all-the-classes/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/11/breakfast-topic-how-familiar-are-you-with-all-the-classes/#comments Breakfast Topic How familiar are you with all the classes Word on the street is that fewer players maintain level 90 alts these days, preferring to concentrate their efforts on a single main character and goof off in the 1-to-90 game rather than the endgame. Does that sound like you? And if it does, has it affected your grasp of gameplay mechanics for the classes other than your main?

I've never been a member of the "one of everything" crew. My typical realm loadout is a level-capped priest, a mid-range paladin and mage, sometimes a high-level rogue, and a banker -- and then more priests, paused at varying states of leveling up alongside now-inactive partners or guild groups. I've earned my understanding of other classes through hours painstakingly assembling raid strategies during early WoW (before the advent of the Dungeon Journal and boss videos) or, more recently, via hard knocks in PvP -- the best teacher, in my humble opinion. Nothing lends a dawning awareness of how another player's skill works better than an injection of quick, brutal death with it.

How familiar are you with the mechanics of today's WoW classes? Do you know all the contemporary systems like the back of your hand, or do certain specs or classes remain a mystery? Do you play the classes you seek to understand, or do you conduct your field research in other ways?

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Breakfast Topic: How familiar are you with all the classes? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Sat, 11 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussionworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topics (Lisa Poisso) Sat, 11 May 2013 08:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[8 ways to stay in touch with all your old WoW friends]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/8-ways-to-stay-in-touch-with-all-your-old-wow-friends/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/8-ways-to-stay-in-touch-with-all-your-old-wow-friends/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/8-ways-to-stay-in-touch-with-all-your-old-wow-friends/#comments 8 ways to keep up with your old WoW friends When it finally comes time for your ship to make a final departure from the shores of Azeroth, the lands you're leaving behind will almost certainly not be what your heart aches for the most -- it's the people. Skittering about atop superficial friendships with guildmates and situational acquaintances is easier than ever in the age of LFD and LFR, but we're sure it's unnecessary to remind you that lifelong friendships and marriages are forged and strengthened in Azeroth, as well. The people we meet here are most assuredly part of our lives - and stepping away from WoW (whether for a temporary sabbatical or on a permanent basis) doesn't inevitably mean losing touch.

We never recommend sticking with the game solely to stay in touch with or please other players. It's no fun to play if your heart's not in it, and nobody has any fun if you're obviously slogging along with little real enthusiasm. If you need to take a break from World of Warcraft but you don't want to lose touch with the people here who've brightened your life, you can keep in touch so many other ways.

Continue reading 8 ways to stay in touch with all your old WoW friends

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8 ways to stay in touch with all your old WoW friends originally appeared on WoW Insider on Fri, 10 May 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> facebookfeedfeaturedfriendsrelationshipssocial-mediaworld-of-warcraft-interviewswow-communitywow-interviewswow-people (Lisa Poisso) Fri, 10 May 2013 17:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Breakfast Topic: What's your least favorite Mists 5-man or scenario?]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/breakfast-topic-whats-your-least-favorite-mists-5-man-or-scena/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/breakfast-topic-whats-your-least-favorite-mists-5-man-or-scena/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/breakfast-topic-whats-your-least-favorite-mists-5-man-or-scena/#comments Breakfast Topic What's your least favorite Mists 5man or scenario Just the other day, we talked about your favorite Mists 5-man instance or scenario. Turn about's fair play -- and come on, what's a little grousing and griping among friends?

You git what you git, and you don't have a fit. The 5-man instances we have in the game right now are all we're getting for the rest of the Mists expansion. But with new scenarios keeping things fresh, we'll have plenty of material to rescue us from instances or scenarios we've come to find an utter drag.

So let it all out: What's your least favorite Mists of Pandaria 5-man instance or scenario? Do the revisions of Scarlet Monastery or Scholomance rub you the wrong way? Is there something about a barrel full of monkeys that's less than a barrel full of monkeys to you?

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Breakfast Topic: What's your least favorite Mists 5-man or scenario? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Fri, 10 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> favorite-instancefeaturedgame-discussiongamer-discussionworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topics (Lisa Poisso) Fri, 10 May 2013 08:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[All-orc clan leader offers fierce perspectives on RP, world PvP, and Garrosh]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/all-orc-clan-leader-offers-fierce-perspectives-on-rp-world-pvp/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/all-orc-clan-leader-offers-fierce-perspectives-on-rp-world-pvp/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/all-orc-clan-leader-offers-fierce-perspectives-on-rp-world-pvp/#comments Allorc clan leader offers fierce perspectives on RP, world PvP, and Garrosh Leave it to a player who attacks WoW with the ferocity and passion of his orcish character to rationally and objectively dissect the pros and cons of making a guild home in a racially exclusive guild.

"Pros of a one-race clan, tribe or house: Focus, intensity, and real sense of being dedicated and set apart, as well as shared lore that becomes a motivating force in itself," enumerates Stonzgrinda, the GM of what might be the game's only orc-exclusive guild on an RP-PvP realm. "The immersion is much more credible and intense for roleplaying purposes. Cons of a one-race clan, tribe or house: Some classes are unavailable for specific purposes -- for instance, a stealthing druid healer for a team of rogues. Some achievements are not obtainable. The narrow niche makes recruiting difficult. ... Players have to know some lore and be able to present it to a standard."

So what makes it worthwhile for the Bloodfury Clan of orcs? "Our sense of camaraderie, shared culture and purpose gives our roleplayers something that no general RP guild could ever attain," Stonzgrinda answers without hesitation. "When we say 'Strength and honor,' it means something. When we mourn the passing of a player who has quit the game, we truly mourn them and remember their contributions and the unique light they brought to our warband."

Ready for some industrial, orc-strength opinions of Garrosh Hellscream, Thrall, and more? Read on.

Continue reading All-orc clan leader offers fierce perspectives on RP, world PvP, and Garrosh

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All-orc clan leader offers fierce perspectives on RP, world PvP, and Garrosh originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 09 May 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> facebookfeedfeaturedworld-of-warcraft-interviewswow-communitywow-interviewswow-people (Lisa Poisso) Thu, 09 May 2013 15:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Breakfast Topic: The tall tale of your best instance or BG run of all time]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/breakfast-topic-the-tall-tale-of-your-best-instance-or-bg-run-o/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/breakfast-topic-the-tall-tale-of-your-best-instance-or-bg-run-o/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/breakfast-topic-the-tall-tale-of-your-best-instance-or-bg-run-o/#comments Breakfast Topic The tall tale of your best instance or BG run of all time You know the feeling: You're doing much more than merely firing on all cylinders. Your performance is absolutely, magnificently beastly. If you're a tank, nothing escapes the force of your presence. If you're healing, the party runs breathlessly without pause, wondering how you're pushing them on DPS. In the face of your DPS, no mob is safe once you're in line of sight. It's a feeling like no other, and it's the kind of gaming experience you remember for years to come.

Raiding can be (to fall back on that ever-popular vocabulary favorite) an epic adventure in World of Warcraft. But in smaller groups -- in 5-man instances and battlegrounds -- players are even more likely to get the chance to experience those peak moments of play when everything comes together to create a real hero tale. Tell us about your best-ever small instance run (5-man only; no raids) or battleground experience -- that time when you not only led the charts but saved the party, turned all the flags, reversed the tides of battle, or carried the day.

Or maybe even all of the above. You hero, you.

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Breakfast Topic: The tall tale of your best instance or BG run of all time originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 09 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussionheroworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topics (Lisa Poisso) Thu, 09 May 2013 08:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[What's your favorite Mists 5-man or scenario?]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/whats-your-favorite-mists-5-man-or-scenario/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/whats-your-favorite-mists-5-man-or-scenario/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/whats-your-favorite-mists-5-man-or-scenario/#comments Breakfast Topic What's your favorite Mists 5man or scenario A friend and former WoW player asked me a question yesterday that left me hemming and hawing: What's my favorite instance in Mists of Pandaria and why? I found myself looping about in circles, citing oddities that tickle my fancy and new fight mechanics that entertain. When it became apparent that I wasn't coming up with a firm response, my friend scoffed that perhaps Mists hadn't presented me with a scenario worth appreciating. "Aha!" I cried. "Scenarios!" And I launched into a lengthy description of scenarios, happily diverting his attention from the fact that, well, I can't seem to choose a favorite Mists instance.

Can you? Is there a Mists 5-man that rises to the top of your list as a favorite? I'll toss scenarios in there too, just to broaden the field. What about your favorite 5-man or scenario makes it enjoyable for you? Is it the setting, the music, the story? Or confess your greed: Is it more that the loot inside is your favorite loot?

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What's your favorite Mists 5-man or scenario? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Wed, 08 May 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> favorite-instancefeaturedgame-discussiongamer-discussionworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topics (Lisa Poisso) Wed, 08 May 2013 20:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Breakfast Topic: Are you starved for WoW time?]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/05/breakfast-topic-are-you-starved-for-wow-time/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/05/breakfast-topic-are-you-starved-for-wow-time/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/05/breakfast-topic-are-you-starved-for-wow-time/#comments Breakfast Topic Are you starved for WoW time Spoken like a proper gamer, today's Breakfast Topic is less a question of "Are you starved for WoW time?" but rather "How much more WoW time do you need?" Let's face it, whether or not you take your recommended daily dose of dailies every day without fail, there's always more to do in Azeroth. WoW has arrived at that ripe, juicy stage that tempts even the most dedicated players with one more bite.

But despite the availability of a playstyle to suit almost every player's schedule, most players seem to end up wistfully pining for at least a little more play time. Do you? Do you feel that you have enough time to get into everything you'd like to try, enjoy, and accomplish in WoW? What would you do if you had more time to play? If you feel short on time, is that shortage a short-term situation, or is it simply the shape of your life right now?

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Breakfast Topic: Are you starved for WoW time? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Sun, 05 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussiontime-managementworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topics (Lisa Poisso) Sun, 05 May 2013 08:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Breakfast Topic: Vanity, thy name is your own guild]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/04/breakfast-topic-vanity-thy-name-is-your-own-guild/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/04/breakfast-topic-vanity-thy-name-is-your-own-guild/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/04/breakfast-topic-vanity-thy-name-is-your-own-guild/#comments Breakfast Topic Vanity, thy name is your own guild I can't find a banker's alt guild on the latest realm I'm playing on. That frustrates me, because I like to keep my banker free from guild ties and other characters' relationships while still enjoying a guild tag and a little camaraderie. But on this realm, apparently, bankers simply create vanity guilds populated by no one but themselves -- probably a wise idea, since then they can benefit from all those lovely, lovely guild bank tabs.

Some players create their own vanity guilds because they like having a guild tag over their heads. These players aren't groupers or joiners. Unreliable schedules or other circumstances keeps their WoW on single-player mode -- they like seeing all the hustle and bustle, but they aren't able to or prefer not to dive into it. Guild tags help these players feel more a part of the player population, with a "hometown" label and sense of identity that a guild provides.

Do you have any characters in a vanity guild? What was behind its creation: more bank slots, a way to indulge in a fun pun or clever concept name, a place to feel you belong? If you've had your vanity guild for a long time, have you found that it has slowly grown, accumulating friends and family members?

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Breakfast Topic: Vanity, thy name is your own guild originally appeared on WoW Insider on Sat, 04 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussionvanity-guildworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topics (Lisa Poisso) Sat, 04 May 2013 08:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Would you play on a classic WoW server?]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/would-you-play-on-a-classic-wow-server/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/would-you-play-on-a-classic-wow-server/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/would-you-play-on-a-classic-wow-server/#comments Breakfast Topic Would you play on a classic WoW server You can never go back -- well, unless it's via the Caverns of Time or unless Blizzard ever decides to open classic-era WoW servers. Of course, Blizzard has already given a thumbs down to the idea. Really. No, seriously. Even so, many players continue to keep the candle burning in hope of rekindling a classic, expansion-locked WoW server.

Before you start cynically smirking about rose-colored glasses, consider this: There really are good reasons to love classic World of Warcraft. This is the content that made us fall in love with the game. It's what melted our hearts for Azeroth, offering some of the best and most enjoyable fights in Azeroth. Plenty of players still enjoy the classic content via retro raiding and more casual trips back for transmog gear.

The question is, do you miss the classic game so much that you'd play on an expansion-locked classic server? Would you perhaps even pay a special fee to unlock or subscribe to that experience? Remember, there would be no new talent systems or gameplay improvements, no new content or leveling curves. You'd start out with nothing but the original World of Warcraft experience, unlocking each expansion in a realmwide effort over time. It would be all old school, all the way, baby. Sound like fun? Sound like a grind? Sound like a fun grind?

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Would you play on a classic WoW server? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Fri, 03 May 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> classicclassic-serverclassic-WoWfeaturedgame-discussiongamer-discussionworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topics (Lisa Poisso) Fri, 03 May 2013 15:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Breakfast Topic: Do you belong to a guild that uses loot council?]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/breakfast-topic-do-you-belong-to-a-guild-that-uses-loot-council/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/breakfast-topic-do-you-belong-to-a-guild-that-uses-loot-council/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/breakfast-topic-do-you-belong-to-a-guild-that-uses-loot-council/#comments Breakfast Topic Do you belong to a guild that uses loot council Loot, no loot ... Loot, no loot ... All this hullabaloo over the pixels our pixels wear. Frankly, the most confusing aspect of the whole equation to me is the fact that so many players leave themselves at the mercy of Blizzard's loot systems in the first place. That's not to say I feel those systems are unfair or that they haven't seen significant improvement over time. I think they're fine.

What I don't understand is why more players don't band together in guilds with flexible systems that help members beat the element of chance. I'm a fervent believer in the loot council system, of playing with folks who have your back. Shouldn't there be a home team advantage when it comes to staring down the RNG? Is looping back through the LFR on your own that much easier or more effective than running with a team that wants to see its members equitably and strongly geared, with friends who enjoy helping you snag your most coveted pieces?

What do you think about loot councils as a way of fairly distributing drops? If your guild uses loot council, have you been satisfied with the overall results? If your guild relies on another method, what about that method do you think makes it a better choice?

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Breakfast Topic: Do you belong to a guild that uses loot council? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Fri, 03 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussionloot-councilworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topics (Lisa Poisso) Fri, 03 May 2013 08:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Inside the fabulous world of blood elf roleplaying]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/inside-the-fabulous-world-of-blood-elf-roleplaying/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/inside-the-fabulous-world-of-blood-elf-roleplaying/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/inside-the-fabulous-world-of-blood-elf-roleplaying/#comments Inside the fabulous world of blood elf roleplaying Whew, we got the snark over with right up front in the headline -- because now it's time to get down to business. Sin'dorei-exclusive guild Selama Ashalanore spins Azerothian lore as tautly as any of the most stringent of the racial guilds we've profiled in recent weeks. "Out of character, Selama Ashalanore is a 'safe place' for lore-compliant blood elf roleplay," notes GM Tholmai Lightbreaker. "In many, many roleplay communities, blood elves are traditionally seen in a very negative light. In our guild, we are working hard to undo that image."

In character, members act out the lives of a group of like-minded blood elves devoted to the restoration of their people since their near extinction during the Third War. "Following the Third War, the blood elves have been caught up in Horde affairs in Outland, the Northrend campaign, the cataclysm, and, most recently, the events in Pandaria," Tholmai explains. "They've barely had a chance to recover. Our group acknowledges this and works round the clock for the Horde agenda, as well as to restore glory to their ancient people."

Can Selama Ashalanore members manage to maintain a sense of levity about the notorious reputation of their race while remaining focused on their compelling racial lore? Oh yes, they can -- and then some.

Continue reading Inside the fabulous world of blood elf roleplaying

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Inside the fabulous world of blood elf roleplaying originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 02 May 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> blood-elffacebookfeedfeaturedselama-ashalanoresindoreiworld-of-warcraft-interviewswow-communitywow-interviewswow-people (Lisa Poisso) Thu, 02 May 2013 09:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[The Drama Mamas guide to going AFK]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/the-drama-mamas-guide-to-going-afk/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/the-drama-mamas-guide-to-going-afk/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/the-drama-mamas-guide-to-going-afk/#comments Guide to going AFK during groups and raids Life happens; we all get that. But should your life be happening to the 24 other people in your raid group? We (and your 24 raidmates) think not. After all, if you're here to play World of Warcraft, why do you keep going AFK?

The need for and the etiquette of going away from the keyboard (AFK) was stronger in WoW's earlier days. During classic WoW, 5-manning places like Blackrock Depths was an all-night affair. Players were more forgiving of a quick dash to the bathroom, and groups doing longer content tended to schedule natural breaks along the way. Today's WoW is a much more terse affair. Scenarios, group instances, and raids are likely to be over long before your bladder is. It's not so difficult to simply plan ahead or wait for a group to come to a natural conclusion.

Yet people don't always do that. Like That Guy who's always texting and checking his Twitter feed instead of looking you in the eye during a conversation, That Guy in game is likely to wander AFK just when you need him the most. Tuning out the people you're with, online or off, simply is not socially acceptable behavior. (You've heard what they're calling those tuned-out types who'll be wearing Google Glass, right? It's not a complimentary term.)

The best way to handle going AFK is to avoid it in the first place. For the rest of those moments when something comes while you're grouping that's beyond your control, let's look at the best ways of managing the interruption and getting you back into the game.

Continue reading The Drama Mamas guide to going AFK

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The Drama Mamas guide to going AFK originally appeared on WoW Insider on Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> adviceafkdramaetiquettefeaturedgoing-afkguild-adviceguild-dramanetiquetteplaying-wowtime-managementwarcraft-advicewow-advicewow-dramawow-drama-guidewow-player-guidewow-q-and-a (Lisa Poisso) Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Who's afraid of a little ol' bear?]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/whos-afraid-of-a-little-ol-bear/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/whos-afraid-of-a-little-ol-bear/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/whos-afraid-of-a-little-ol-bear/#comments Breakfast Topic Who's afraid of a little ol' bear It appears that WoW Insider's illustrious editor-in-chief Alex Ziebart is afraid of bears. While acknowleding their real-world badassery, he still seems confounded by their power.


Bears? Really? But players chimed in: Bears are notoriously tough, from Azeroth to Earth and other worlds online. I'd agree that bears are tough cookies and I give them wide berth, but they don't inspire the same fear in me that skeletons do. There's no getting around the unnatural aggro radius of even a garden variety skeleton. Oozes are like that, too; my head tells me I'm not afraid of them, but they aggro and gank me in some pitiful, overbalanced way every single time.

Confess: Is there some type of monster you're irrationally afraid of and avoid on principle, no matter what level it might be? Is it unique to Azeroth, or do you find that that particular beastie remains your nemesis in every game you play?

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Who's afraid of a little ol' bear? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussionworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topics (Lisa Poisso) Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Beast master catalogs the biological diversity of Azeroth]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/beast-master-catalogs-the-biological-diversity-of-azeroth/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/beast-master-catalogs-the-biological-diversity-of-azeroth/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/beast-master-catalogs-the-biological-diversity-of-azeroth/#comments Hunter catalogs the biological taxonomy of Azeroth A fantasy game like World of Warcraft doesn't have to stick too closely (or even at all) to the laws of science -- but oh, when the two worlds collide, players who love both can discover a true thing of beauty. That's how it came to pass that a zookeeper from Florida has created a taxinomical website outlining the biology of the wildlife of Azeroth. WoW Biology 101 offers curious players a scientifically grounded look at the creatures of WoW, both fantastical and based on reality.

"I think when we see these connections, it brings these worlds a little closer together and, for me at least, increases my enjoyment of both," notes Banya, a beast master hunter (because you knew that's what she'd play, right?) on Drenden (US). "My site is truly just flavor and a potentially different way to look at the game. When you're running around and see one of the awesome animals in game, my site would let you know how closely it is based off of a real-life animal. "

Continue reading Beast master catalogs the biological diversity of Azeroth

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Beast master catalogs the biological diversity of Azeroth originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> facebookfeedfeaturedworld-of-warcraft-interviewswow-communitywow-interviewswow-people (Lisa Poisso) Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Breakfast Topic: How many dailies could you manage in one day?]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/breakfast-topic-how-many-dailies-could-you-manage-in-one-day/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/breakfast-topic-how-many-dailies-could-you-manage-in-one-day/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/breakfast-topic-how-many-dailies-could-you-manage-in-one-day/#comments Breakfast Topic How many dailies could you manage in one day Today is "Friday Dailies" for my guild, all ... day ... long. We're pushing for Daily Anticipation, the guild achievement for 150,000 dailies done. Sure, your guild may already have this achievement -- but it's not so easy to snag for a guild without a deep member roster.

We're close: 140,608 as of last night. And there's no way we do 10,000 dailies in one day, so a single, mind-numbing night of grinding is out of the question. Still, wondering when we might notch the achievement gets one ticking off one's fingers and wondering ...

Assuming you haven't stopped dailying around, how many dailies do you do every day? How many do you think you could complete in a normal-length (for you) play session if you really put the pedal to the metal? Which dailies would you line up first? If you were trying to do as many dailies as possible, is there somewhere you'd head outside of Pandaria to crank them out?

[Thanks for the topic go to Gimmlette, who I suspect is merely trying to remind me to log in tonight and, er, do my dailies!]

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Breakfast Topic: How many dailies could you manage in one day? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Sat, 20 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> dailiesdaily-questsfeaturedgame-discussiongamer-discussionworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topics (Lisa Poisso) Sat, 20 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[WoWinSchool project nabs Gamification Summit 2013 award]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/wowinschool-project-nabs-gamification-summit-2013-award/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/wowinschool-project-nabs-gamification-summit-2013-award/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/wowinschool-project-nabs-gamification-summit-2013-award/#comments WoWinSchool project nabs Gamification Summit award Everything they learned, they learned from World of Warcraft -- or in this case, everything they taught. Congratulations are in order for WoW players and educators Lucas Gillispie and Peggy Sheehy, whose WoWinSchool program has earned a GAward for Best Use of Engagement Techniques in Education at the Gamification Summit 2013 taking place now in San Francisco. The award recognizes the effective use engagement techniques such as loyalty, gamification, and behavioral science in programs, apps, projects, campaigns, and companies.

"WoW in School: The Hero's Journey" is a full-year language arts course for middle school students. While the program was initially targeted for "at-risk" youths, Gillispie and Sheehy quickly saw that the approach was a hit with learners of all abilities and backgrounds.

Don't we wish our own teachers had been so open-minded and current? See how Gillispie and Sheehy win the hearts and minds of their young students in our in-depth interviews with the dynamic educators, Learn to game to game to learn and WoW goes to English class.

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WoWinSchool project nabs Gamification Summit 2013 award originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> educationgamificationgamification-summitlucas-gillispiepeggy-sheehywow-in-school (Lisa Poisso) Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Trouble filling those last few raid slots? Try the raid browser]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/trouble-filling-those-last-few-raid-slots-try-the-raid-browser/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/trouble-filling-those-last-few-raid-slots-try-the-raid-browser/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/trouble-filling-those-last-few-raid-slots-try-the-raid-browser/#comments Trouble filling those last few raid slots Try the raid browser It's frustrating to lose time when you need to fill those last few raid spots, yet the Raid Finder isn't coming up with the players you need. Or maybe you're the one who's seeking a raid group, but nothing seems to be shaking loose that night. In a recent Breakfast Topic on in-game help tools, WoW Insider reader PaulLloyd offered up a strikingly simple suggestion that gives both types of seekers one more avenue of hope: the old-school Raid browser.

The wha...? PaulLloyd's not referring to the Raid Finder tab in the contemporary Dungeon Finder feature. This relic of olden raiding days, folks, is the previous system found tucked inside the Social tab. Writes PaulLloyd:

This is the "find a raid" system that pre-dates LFR. You would list your interest in a certain raid, and when a raid group is looking for a certain role to be filled, they would look them up on this list. It would've saved me cancelling many raids if people would use it. Sadly, it is hidden away, forcing RLs to use trade chat for missing slots, which relies on people sitting around a city and watching trade chat, which means a huge number of people missing the message.

For those wondering "what the hell is the raid browser?" Open the social tab (default 'O'). Select 'Raid' tab. Click 'Other Raids' Button. If you're announcing your availability to a raid, use the 'Choose Raid' tab. If you're looking for people, use the 'Browse' tab.

While nobody's advocating using this older system as a replacement for the Raid Finder, it makes a fine adjunct tool that could come through if enough players and raid leaders give it a try. PaulLloyd observes that the system is fairly useless on his realm because players simply don't use it, but other players seem hopeful that it could offer a helpful backup method of finding raiders and raids. What do you think? Seems worth a try!

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Trouble filling those last few raid slots? Try the raid browser originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> how-to-find-a-raidlooking-for-raidraid finderRaidFinderraidingraidstips (Lisa Poisso) Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[The Legion of Vengeance: Forsaken having the time of their unlives]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/the-hand-of-vengeance-forsaken-having-the-time-of-their-unlives/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/the-hand-of-vengeance-forsaken-having-the-time-of-their-unlives/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/the-hand-of-vengeance-forsaken-having-the-time-of-their-unlives/#comments The Hand of Vengeance Forsaken having the time of their unlives Of all the cities in Azeroth, the one that seems to me most like a living, breathing city is coincidentally the one that's undead. The Undercity huddles beneath the ruins of Lordaeron, drenched in atmospheric detail: its hidden underground tunnel, an oft-confusing pinwheel layout and dangerous elevators that confound new visitors, the eerie ruins above with their invisible ghosts, the throne room with all its power struggles and heart-wrenching beauty -- and the Royal Apothecary Society. Who hasn't spent time cautiously exploring the Apothecarium, with its cages of groaning test subjects and burbling vats of green plague?

Many players haven't given much thought to the cadre of Forsaken apothecaries in an expansion or more, but you'd be a fool if you assumed they hadn't been busy. Their story has captured the imaginations of a group of players on Moon Guard (US), the all-Forsaken guild The Legion of Vengeance (formerly Hand of Vengeance). Named for the Forsaken forces sent to Northrend by Sylvanas Windrunner to wreak plague and vengeance upon the Lich King, this roleplaying group functions within the context of the Royal Apothecary Society itself, continuing its evil work in a fascinating adventure that's captivated its all-undead player roster.

Continue reading The Legion of Vengeance: Forsaken having the time of their unlives

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The Legion of Vengeance: Forsaken having the time of their unlives originally appeared on WoW Insider on Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> all-forsakenfacebookfeedfeaturedforsakenhand-of-vengeanceselesteundeadworld-of-warcraft-interviewswow-communitywow-interviewswow-people (Lisa Poisso) Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[The Drama Mamas guide to handling in-game harassment]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/the-drama-mamas-guide-to-handling-in-game-harassment/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/the-drama-mamas-guide-to-handling-in-game-harassment/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/the-drama-mamas-guide-to-handling-in-game-harassment/#comments The Drama Mamas guide to handling ingame harassment You've tried being clear, and you've tried being firm. Somebody's on your case in game, and they're not letting up. What are your options for managing in-game harassment?

Rule #1: Managing harassment is about protecting you and your enjoyment of the game, not about stopping or changing a harasser's behavior. You can't change other people. It's extremely unlikely that anything you do or say will inspire someone to see the light and become a thoughtful, more compassionate person. Managing harassment, then, is not about how to "fix" your harasser but how to extricate yourself from the situation so you can get on with playing your game.

Continue reading The Drama Mamas guide to handling in-game harassment

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The Drama Mamas guide to handling in-game harassment originally appeared on WoW Insider on Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> advicebehaviordramafeaturedguild-adviceguild-dramaharassmentplaying-wowreportingreporting-playerswarcraft-advicewow-advicewow-dramawow-drama-guidewow-player-guidewow-q-and-a (Lisa Poisso) Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Breakfast Topic: What in-game help tools do you use?]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/14/breakfast-topic-what-in-game-help-tools-do-you-use/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/14/breakfast-topic-what-in-game-help-tools-do-you-use/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/14/breakfast-topic-what-in-game-help-tools-do-you-use/#comments Breakfast Topic What ingame help tools do you use "Help?! We don't need no stinkin' help playing WoW!" ... Well, except when we do. As streamlined as World of Warcraft is today, the gameplay isn't 100% intuitive or foolproof. Come on, surely everyone here has at least once noticed a loading screen tip that's inspired if not a revelation then a determination to remember to try something that way.

I'd venture to say that there are so many avenues of in-game help today that the very idea of in-game help is losing its training-wheels stigma. We have the dungeon journal, the What's Changed tab, the Core Abilities tab ... I use most of these at least somewhat regularly as I switch from alt to alt, to refresh my memory since the last time I dusted off that character. Which of these in-game help tools or others do you use? Is the level of detail there too light, too dense, or just right?

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Breakfast Topic: What in-game help tools do you use? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Sun, 14 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussionworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topics (Lisa Poisso) Sun, 14 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Breakfast Topic: Has player-made gear become irrelevant?]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/13/breakfast-topic-has-player-made-gear-become-irrelevant/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/13/breakfast-topic-has-player-made-gear-become-irrelevant/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/13/breakfast-topic-has-player-made-gear-become-irrelevant/#comments Breakfast Topic Is playermade gear irrelevant How many pieces of player-made gear is your character wearing right now? What if we specified PvE characters only? I'm betting you could count your crafted pieces on one hand -- and more likely, one finger or less. While recent buffs mean that crafted PvP gear still has legs (literally and figuratively) for players in transition and building mode, there aren't a whole lot of must-have PvE crafteds in the game anymore.

Player-made gear used to be a staple for leveling players, and many pieces were coveted even into the raiding game. Crafted blues and purples made all the difference in whether you could mow through the content or simply plink away. Today's players sail through the levels and clear raid content faster than they can gather the mats while a piece is still relevant. And leveling a production profession to make your own gear? To keep your skills on par with your level, you'll need to keep a hawkish eye on your adventuring XP, devoting regular sessions to pulling your crafting skills up to the bar. You can probably find crafted gear for sale in the auction house if you play on a realm with a robust economy, but the easiest path to power these days is simply to play a couple of hours and ding up another level.

Crafting my own gear and being able to make a coveted piece for a friend or guildie used to be a highlight of the game for me, but my most recent characters have simply never given crafted gear a second thought. Has player-made gear become irrelevant in today's game? Would you prefer more of an emphasis on crafted gear, or are you just as happy to see it fade?

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Breakfast Topic: Has player-made gear become irrelevant? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Sat, 13 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussionworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topics (Lisa Poisso) Sat, 13 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Savage trolls roleplay the revenge of the Zandalari]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/savage-trolls-roleplay-the-revenge-of-the-zandalari/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/savage-trolls-roleplay-the-revenge-of-the-zandalari/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/savage-trolls-roleplay-the-revenge-of-the-zandalari/#comments Savage troll guild roleplays the revenge of the Zandalari Deep in the heart of steamy Stranglethorn Vale, within the golden city of Zul'Gurub, gathers a savage band of Zandalari trolls. Loyal to neither the Horde nor the Alliance, these players embrace a fierce roleplaying ethic that can be both fascinating and intimidating to newcomers. Yet Atal Zanza Aka is esteemed by other guilds on Argent Dawn (RP-EU) and has become a vital (if quantitatively small) ingredient in the roleplaying community.

We visited with guild leader Zazajin to explore this niche of WoW roleplaying and find out how this guild manages to thrive in as antagonistic role that sweeps it away from the well-traveled paths and populated city centers of Azeroth.

WoW Insider: It would appear that making a troll character for Atal Zanza Aka is full-throttle roleplaying not for the faint of heart, would you agree?

Zazajin: Our guild is indeed first and foremost a roleplaying guild. We formed as a breakaway from the Loa Atal Ai (a Darkspear-based trollish guild which serves the Horde but includes different troll tribes) during the occupation of the Echo Isles, and abandoned the Horde to serve the Zandalari and preserve trollish culture, which our characters felt was threatened under the Horde's regime and thus moved to Zul'Gurub to try to preserve that culture. We're made up of various troll tribes, much like the Zandalari themselves. We've members from the Amani (forest trolls), Drakkari (frost trolls), farraki (sand trolls), Gurubashi (jungle trolls), and Zandalari (those trolls that stand up straight, haha).

Continue reading Savage trolls roleplay the revenge of the Zandalari

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Savage trolls roleplay the revenge of the Zandalari originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 11 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> all-trollatal-zanza-akafacebookfeedfeaturedtrollworld-of-warcraft-interviewswow-communitywow-interviewswow-peoplezazajin (Lisa Poisso) Thu, 11 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Breakfast Topic: I've had enough!]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/06/breakfast-topic-ive-had-enough/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/06/breakfast-topic-ive-had-enough/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/06/breakfast-topic-ive-had-enough/#comments Breakfast Topic I've had enough! I'm not one to make a big deal out of a minor itch. Whether it's an annoying person, irritating behavior, or a frustrating situation, I can keep on rolling without interruption. But oh, there comes the inevitable straw that breaks the camel's back. For me in Mists, it was the ookin' dook flingers and dear Li Li (bless her heart) who tag-teamed to destroy my last nerve. Individually, I think I could handle them, but since the moment I found my quest logs on both factions simultaneously logjammed by the pair of them, I've cut a wide path around both. No more hozen. No more strident brats. So, so done.

Sometimes a new thing seems enjoyable at first, but after repeated exposure to it, it begins grating on your nerves until you just can't take another second. Beyond grating characters -- no more talk about annoying NPCs -- is there something else in Mists of Pandaria that's become the target of your own ire? Maybe it's a quest type that's worn out its appeal, a running joke that's lost its edge, or a trending group or raid behavior that frustrates you to tears. Is there some aspect of the game that you wish would quietly, completely wink out of existence overnight? Is there something prevalent in today's game that makes you clap your hands over your eyes and screech "Enough!"?

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Breakfast Topic: I've had enough! originally appeared on WoW Insider on Sat, 06 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussionworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topics (Lisa Poisso) Sat, 06 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Breakfast Topic: Spill your secrets for an organized guild bank]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/breakfast-topic-spill-your-secrets-for-an-organized-guild-bank/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/breakfast-topic-spill-your-secrets-for-an-organized-guild-bank/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/breakfast-topic-spill-your-secrets-for-an-organized-guild-bank/#comments Breakfast Topic Spill your secrets for an organized guild bank Whether you're a guild officer guiding the collective bank storage of an entire guild or a banker alt managing a one-account guild vault, how do you keep things guild bank storage under control? What does it take? Chaotic guild banks have broken many a lesser volunteer who drowned under the unrelenting barrage of items. If you're a neatnik, please, please tell us. This organization thing -- how is it done?

Talk tabs with us. What tabs do you maintain in your guild bank? Your single-player guild bank? How do you keep guild members from simply hurling items into the bank wherever they find an open slot? What kind of maintenance is involved -- do you have a dedicated officer or a set amount of time to prune and organize on a regular basis?

Surely there's a method to the madness of guild banking, a way you keep your vault from turning into the Anne Stickney Home for Wayward Everythings. Help!

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Breakfast Topic: Spill your secrets for an organized guild bank originally appeared on WoW Insider on Fri, 05 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussionguild-bankworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topics (Lisa Poisso) Fri, 05 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Massive cross-realm gathering successfully unites players from 11 realms]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/04/massive-cross-realm-gathering-successfully-unites-players-from-a/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/04/massive-cross-realm-gathering-successfully-unites-players-from-a/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/04/massive-cross-realm-gathering-successfully-unites-players-from-a/#comments Massive crossrealm gathering successfully unites players from a halfdozen realms It was a massive multiplayer success for this massively multiplayer game: On March 20, the Thundering Hammer Clan of Feathermoon (US-Horde) successfully brought together more than 120 players from multiple roleplay realms in what might have been WoW's first large-scale, player-run cross-realm event. In bringing together three full raid groups from half a dozen realms, the Kosh'harg roleplay gathering of Horde clans helped demonstrate how to pull off a major cross-realm event and explore the possibilities and limitations of CRZ (cross-realm zone) mechanics.

What can other players learn from the Kosh'harg about organizing a CRZ event? We went behind the scenes with Kosh'harg organizer Thorgrun (GM of the Thundering Hammer Clan).

WoW Insider: It sounds like the event was a smash success. Congratulations!

Thorgrun: The Kosh'harg was an amazing success. At the peak of the event we had three full raid groups and a number of ungrouped local attendees, bringing us up over 120 players from a dozen different realms who joined us in Nagrand for the festivities.

How much did you and other organizers know beforehand about realm and zone loads with regard to cross-realm mechanics?

We only knew what has been published and widely publicized, namely that the CRZ mechanic is designed to populate low-pop zones with players from associated realms and when population grows to a certain point to split those players off into separate zones. We also knew that players from any North American realm could be brought into any zone on a host realm just by being grouped with a majority of members from that realm - i.e., two Feathermoon players can host a third player from say, Farstriders, in their version of the zone, or alternatively a 5-man group of Feathermoon players could host an entire raid of CRZ players, provided no more than four of them were from the same realm in that particular raid. This is the mechanic that we used to "anchor" our event firmly on one server's seed of the Nagrand zone.

Continue reading Massive cross-realm gathering successfully unites players from 11 realms

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Massive cross-realm gathering successfully unites players from 11 realms originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 04 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> cross-realmcross-realm-zonescrzfacebookfeedfeaturedkosh-hargkoshhargroleplaythorgrunworld-of-warcraft-interviewswow-communitywow-interviewswow-people (Lisa Poisso) Thu, 04 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Breakfast Topic: Do you play other MMOs besides WoW?]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/04/breakfast-topic-do-you-play-other-mmos-besides-wow/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/04/breakfast-topic-do-you-play-other-mmos-besides-wow/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/04/breakfast-topic-do-you-play-other-mmos-besides-wow/#comments Breakfast Topic Is WoW your only MMO Even a glance at WoW Insider's comments section will turn up hordes of devoted WoW-lovers and players who pursue the game with single-minded devotion. That's natural enough; that's what we're here for, after all. But how many of you play other MMOs? Despite the huge number of massively multiplayer online games available today -- enough to keep our sister site Massively a popular internet gaming destination -- do you even have time to indulge in more than one?

View Poll



If you do play more than one MMO, how do you manage your time between them? What games scratch which gaming itches for you?

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Breakfast Topic: Do you play other MMOs besides WoW? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 04 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussionmmosworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topics (Lisa Poisso) Thu, 04 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Breakfast Topic: What are your dirty little WoW habits?]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/breakfast-topic-what-are-your-dirty-little-wow-habits/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/breakfast-topic-what-are-your-dirty-little-wow-habits/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/breakfast-topic-what-are-your-dirty-little-wow-habits/#comments You might want to create a new comment profile for today's Breakfast Topic -- but if you don't, we promise not to hold anything you say against you. Very much. Now, scoot a little closer and let's dish.

Today's topic: dirty little habits and gameplay secrets.
  • Do you skip reading quest text?
  • Do you have unenhanced gear?
  • Do you ignore performance meters such as DPS meters?
  • Do you purposely slack in PUGs, doing just enough to get by?
  • Do you read, surf the web, or watch TV or movies while you're engaged in group content?
  • Do you select need for all loot without discrimination?
What other foibles lie beneath your stalwart Azerothian exterior?

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Breakfast Topic: What are your dirty little WoW habits? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 02 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> bad-habitsfeaturedgame-discussiongamer-discussionworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topics (Lisa Poisso) Tue, 02 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Drama Mamas guide to preventing multiplayer gaming drama]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/drama-mamas-guide-to-preventing-multiplayer-gaming-drama/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/drama-mamas-guide-to-preventing-multiplayer-gaming-drama/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/drama-mamas-guide-to-preventing-multiplayer-gaming-drama/#comments Drama Mamas guide to preventing multiplayer gaming drama DNP Social drama -- sticky, sticky stuff. The problem with drama in a multiplayer game is that even acknowledging its existence usually engenders more. That's why so many guilds prohibit airing drama as well as any potentially controversial topic in public chat channels. Smart gamers don't manage social drama -- they dodge it.

The first line of defense against drama for most players is membership in an effective guild. Savvy guilds provide a drama-free zone by offering clear, explicit guidelines and rules on common bones of contention such as loot, raid attendance, and player behavior. Debate and controversy are handled in private chat channels or forums. Not at all an attempt to squash freedom of expression, a no-drama edict is designed to free players from being forced to bear witness to an outbreak of drama, allowing guild officers to clean up the mess quickly and effectively behind the scenes. (Learn more about the structure and habits of highly effective guilds in WoW Insider's weekly Officers' Quarters.)

But no guild can protect every player from the ravages of social drama. Where there are people, there will be drama. Fights with your mom or your spouse over game time, finding a guild whose definition of PG chat matches yours, handling an inappropriate player crush ... Let the Drama Mamas show you how to prevent most drama and dodge the rest.

Continue reading Drama Mamas guide to preventing multiplayer gaming drama

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Drama Mamas guide to preventing multiplayer gaming drama originally appeared on WoW Insider on Mon, 01 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> advicedramafeaturedguild-adviceguild-dramaplaying-wowwarcraft-advicewow-advicewow-dramawow-drama-guidewow-player-guidewow-q-and-a (Lisa Poisso) Mon, 01 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Breakfast Topic: Drops vs. tokens or points]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/breakfast-topic-drops-vs-tokens-or-points/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/breakfast-topic-drops-vs-tokens-or-points/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/breakfast-topic-drops-vs-tokens-or-points/#comments Breakfast Topic Drops vs tokens or points I'm a fairly methodical player. I dodge entire swaths of the game (pet battles and holiday events, I'm looking at you) because I don't have time to get sucked into the inevitable completionism. But despite a fondness for checklists and planning, I'm dissatisfied in a system centered on buying gear with tokens, points, or other currency systems. I'm a fan of throwing my fates to the wind and diving into an instance to see what luck may bring me. I like not knowing if or when a particular piece might come my way, and I'm fully open to the possibility that it might not ever come at all. (Although I reserve the right to grouse about it. That's part of the fun.)

For me, this bit of RNG design is part of what keeps the parameters of a game world feeling larger than the sum of my ambitions. The envy of seeing someone in town stroll by wielding the massive two-handed staff that I've always admired, the unchecked line item on my gear list ... I like knowing that there exist parts of this world that I can't manhandle into submission. After all, my dream gear list wouldn't be very dreamy if it were merely a shopping list.

We do need alternatives. We need ways to fill in holes for things that never drop, and we need drops for players who prefer not to run dungeons and raid content. (I wish more of that were based on player-made items, frankly -- but that's another Breakfast Topic.) Most assuredly, we need a selection of rewards for players whose souls crave predictable, regular infusions of upgrade juju.

I appreciate WoW's current mix of methods, although for my own tastes, things have slid a little too far to the predictable side of the equation. Knowing what my upgrades will be and when I will get them feels dully inevitable. I'd welcome a little more reliance on the RNG, with the opportunity for a little more chaos surrounding any given drop (and therefore a little more passionate hope beforehand and a little more unbridled joy afterwards). As Matt Rossi puts it, "loot is the carrot; not getting loot is the stick."

Open country vs. mapped road -- where do you stand? Do you prefer plotting your path to purple glory with gear that lies reliably in your path, or do you wish there were a little more crazy RNG splashed into the mix? Should the mix of gear acquisition methods balance differently in different areas of the game, and if so, do you think the game already does so with success? And most importantly, how has the mix of predictable vs. unpredictable gear upgrades worked out for you?

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Breakfast Topic: Drops vs. tokens or points originally appeared on WoW Insider on Mon, 01 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussionlootupgradesworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topics (Lisa Poisso) Mon, 01 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Breakfast Topic: Do you have a secret getaway character?]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/03/31/breakfast-topic-do-you-have-a-secret-getaway-character/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/03/31/breakfast-topic-do-you-have-a-secret-getaway-character/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/03/31/breakfast-topic-do-you-have-a-secret-getaway-character/#comments Breakfast Topic Do you have a secret getaway character Guild tag every last character? Of course not! As an introvert by nature, I value the ability to log in and play free from social or performance pressures. True, most of my time these days is spent leveling in a dedicated duo in a guild full of chatterboxes. But I also spend a good chunk of time on a level 90 who remains untagged and unknown. She lets me unplug from the social and work-related aspects of WoW to tool around at whatever pace I please. Her sister character on a different faction and realm is also unguilded; she's more of a PvPer and oh, does she enjoy letting off a little steam!

As you might imagine, I haven't availed myself of Real ID. When I can choose an appear offline option, I'll undoubtedly check it out. Until then, though, I like having the option to log in completely anonymously.

Do you have one or more secret getaway characters? If you do, would you consider your primary getaway character your main, an alternative main, or an alt?

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Breakfast Topic: Do you have a secret getaway character? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Sun, 31 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussionworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topics (Lisa Poisso) Sun, 31 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Going Large: All-tauren guild stampedes beyond roleplaying]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/going-large-all-tauren-guild-stampedes-beyond-roleplaying/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/going-large-all-tauren-guild-stampedes-beyond-roleplaying/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/going-large-all-tauren-guild-stampedes-beyond-roleplaying/#comments It's a fairly safe assumption that a guild composed exclusively of members of one Azerothian race will be a roleplaying guild. If you made that assumption about The Venture Co.'s Thunderhoof Clan -- and yes, the guild is exclusively tauren -- you'd be missing most of what this guild is all about. Of course they roleplay; one glance at the guild Tumblr or website makes their love of the shu'halo life abundantly clear. But as a self-described casual guild, TC also enjoys light raiding and organized and world PvP as well as light RP. It's a fairly unique approach among race-specific groups, which usually core into racial lore and rarely engage in organized raiding or PvP.

We interviewed GM Ravkha to find out how such a specialized guild swings easily with such a wide-ranging approach to the game. For the herd!

Continue reading Going Large: All-tauren guild stampedes beyond roleplaying

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Going Large: All-tauren guild stampedes beyond roleplaying originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> all-taurenfacebookfeedfeaturedravkhashuhalothunderhoof-clanworld-of-warcraft-interviewswow-communitywow-interviewswow-people (Lisa Poisso) Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Breakfast Topic: Should characters be able to learn all professions?]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/breakfast-topic-should-characters-be-able-to-learn-all-professi/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/breakfast-topic-should-characters-be-able-to-learn-all-professi/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/breakfast-topic-should-characters-be-able-to-learn-all-professi/#comments Image In a recent Call to Auction podcast with WoW Insider writer and profession/economy specialist Basil "Euripedes" Bentsen, WoW Lead Systems Designer Greg Street and Professions Designer He-Rim Woo intimated that Blizzard might be toying with the idea of expanding the number of professions players can have. "We've even considered whether it makes sense to let characters learn more than two professions (or maybe even all of them)," they told Euripedes. "We have nothing to announce yet in this direction. It's just brainstorming at this stage."

Personally, I'm a huge supporter of a robust crafting system that's central to both the economy and player gearing. Crafted purples -- I love 'em. But strengthening the professions as a whole could mean a major overhaul to the difficulty and accessibility of what the game allows individual players to accomplish. If player-made items were to play a more central role in modern Azeroth, how should the scaling of professions and crafting change to accommodate that? Should changing professions be difficult? Expensive? Should you remember recipes if you drop a profession and then pick it up again? Or should you be able to learn as many professions as you care to put the time into training?

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Breakfast Topic: Should characters be able to learn all professions? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 28 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussionworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topics (Lisa Poisso) Thu, 28 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Breakfast Topic: Have you ever experienced the perfect synergistic partnership?]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/03/25/breakfast-topic-have-you-ever-experienced-the-perfect-synergist/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/03/25/breakfast-topic-have-you-ever-experienced-the-perfect-synergist/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/03/25/breakfast-topic-have-you-ever-experienced-the-perfect-synergist/#comments Breakfast Topic Have you enjoyed that perfect synergistic ingame partnership I don't think it would be an exaggeration to say that nothing will ever approach the synergy I had between my classic era priest and my husband's warrior tank. We've played a lot of character combinations in a lot of different games, but there was something soul-stirring about our link with those two.

It seems silly written here in black and white, but I knew things about his tanking that I can't even describe knowing. Their absence would spill into view whenever I healed someone else. Even after I came to learn the habits and rhythms of the other tanks and we were downing bosses like a well-oiled machine, the missing element when I healed another tank hung in the air like perfume from a beautiful woman who'd just left the room. It was more than knowing his usual patterns of pulling or trusting him to pick up an add or position the boss, deeper than a feel for how much damage he could take or his intuitive sense of how long I could keep up on sheer regen mode after going OOM. I intuitively knew things about how he reacted on that character (and he about me and mine) that allowed us to function as a unit. It was bizarrely intimate. And no matter how well-honed our patterns of play are today, with different characters, we just don't feel the same effect.

It occurs to me that players who enjoy significant arena success must enjoy this sort of wordless communication, and I'm tempted to try some arena PvP with my husband to see if we can recapture and exploit the fruits of our teamwork. Have you ever played with someone with whom you shared utter synergy? What aspects of your partnership raise battle from a series of enjoyable encounters to a breathlessly glorious endeavor?

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Breakfast Topic: Have you ever experienced the perfect synergistic partnership? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Mon, 25 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussionworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topics (Lisa Poisso) Mon, 25 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Breakfast Topic: Do play behind, atop, or at the bleeding edge of the content curve?]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/03/24/breakfast-topic-do-play-behind-atop-or-at-the-bleeding-edge-o/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/03/24/breakfast-topic-do-play-behind-atop-or-at-the-bleeding-edge-o/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/03/24/breakfast-topic-do-play-behind-atop-or-at-the-bleeding-edge-o/#comments Breakfast Topic Do play behind, atop, or at the bleeding edge of the content curve I always smile when I come across someone aghast at another player's unfamiliarity with a particular instance or encounter. ("It's been months since that came out!") They're like the horrified grade-schoolers in the neighborhood we used to live in who simply couldn't fathom having a playmate who didn't carry Mom or Dad's cast-off iPhone. These players can't imagine what dire circumstances might keep someone out of Throne of Thunder or how somebody who's played for a year couldn't have Dragon Soul picked clean.

I understand the sense of urgency. Riding into new expansions and patches with a level-capped character and tackling every new update as it releases builds curiosity, motivation, and emotional investment. It's supposed to. But behind the leading edge are tiers and tiers of content that's -- surprise! -- not worn out and useless. With zone updates, raid tweaks, and ongoing tuning, Blizzard works steadily to ensure that players can realistically enjoy older content, too.

Whether you're a late starter or a late bloomer, a completionist still scraping clean nooks and crannies or a time-challenged casual player who simply hasn't gotten there yet, do you play WoW at a rate that's decidedly behind the curve? Like probably most readers here at WoW Insider, are you bobbing comfortably along somewhere in the Mists of Pandaria/Thunder King experience? Or are you chafing at the bit for time and your realmmates to unlock additional bleeding-edge content, thriving on taking down the latest content as soon as it's released?

View Poll



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Breakfast Topic: Do play behind, atop, or at the bleeding edge of the content curve? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Sun, 24 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussionworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topics (Lisa Poisso) Sun, 24 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST WoW Insider <![CDATA[Lunch Topic: What's your WoW Achilles heel?]]> http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/breakfast-topic-whats-your-wow-achilles-heel/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/breakfast-topic-whats-your-wow-achilles-heel/ http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/breakfast-topic-whats-your-wow-achilles-heel/#comments Breakfast Topic What's your WoW Achilles heel What aspect of WoW has given you the most devilish time? Maybe it's something that you've finally come to grips with after many arduous hours, like PvP. Or maybe it's something that's made you throw your hands up in exasperation, resolving to avoid it forevermore, like PvP.

Let's face it: PvP certainly has quite a rep for intimidating and exasperating players. Not me, though. I'm totally down with PvP. The thing that throws me for a loop is the whole economy and Auction House thing. Despite editing Gold Capped after Gold Capped article during my time in the WoW Insider editorial chair, I've never managed to wrap my brain around strategizing how to make money in game. I use an AH addon strictly to help me get the heck outta Dodge. I want that stuff gone! Since much earlier eras, I've never been short on funds for anything I really wanted to buy, so my slapdash approach seems to serve me adequately. As a result, the inner workings of my AH addon and the realm economy in general remain all rather mysterious to me. I simply can't (and won't) take time to digest all that twitchy detail.

I have a friend, though, for whom playing the market is an amuse-bouche to any good play session. Unfortunately, his idea of a good play session and mine diverge at the point that it's time for him to move out of the fire -- his painfully evident Achilles heel. I have no idea how he hasn't internalized this basic by now, but there it is. He's just not a mover. I heal him a lot. We love him anyway.

What part of WoW's gameplay bedevils you to this day? Maybe it's something that took you more time than you'd have liked to master. Perhaps you're still struggling. Or maybe it's something that you've just never figured out (and possibly never want to). What's your WoW Achilles heel?

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Lunch Topic: What's your WoW Achilles heel? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Fri, 22 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> achilles-heelfeaturedgame-discussiongamer-discussionweaknessworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topics (Lisa Poisso) Fri, 22 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST WoW Insider