World of Warcraft - Wrath of the Discussion Thread

[Mr. Anderson]

I know those of us who play WoW are usually too busy kicking Alliance ass (FOR THE HORDE!!!!) to talk about it, but what the hell.

Feel free to post your server and allegiance.

Mine is obvious.

Come visit Samuraifez, the Troll Shaman, on Burning Legion anytime. 8-)

WoW Resources:

www.worldofwarcraft.com (duh)
www.wowhead.com (my favorite reference site, by far)
www.wowwiki.com
www.thottbot.com (auction house resource)
www.mmo-champion.com (guides and raid strategies)

[Hydro2Oxide]

Might want to throw thottbot up there.

I haven't played WoW in quite a few months, maybe I should hop back on the horse.

[Ryukahn]

I always hit up MMO-Champion for the lastest info.

[toper]

I have a lvl 53 pally (Aidenhark) on the Borean Tundra server, feel free to add me.

[sasukekun]

@Mr. Anderson: where you playing on Burning Legion-US when it came out? I was in Ropetown on that server until we transferred to Executus-US.

[DukeEdwardI]

There are times when I feel the pull of WoW. I played for a long time but quit right before WotLK came out. I bought it and played 3 hours of it and haven't played since.

BUT when i did play, i was Gilaktug, Orc Hunter on Thunderlord. Good times.

[Sir_Fragalot]

I just got back into WoW not too long ago after taking a break for 8th months. I play a 77 Paladin on Kul Tiras (Rhodarath).

Best WoW mod I use is called Lightheaded (and also a complementary mod called tom tom). Basically you get in game wowhead comments and if someone posts coords you just click and you get a arrow and distance on where to go.

http://www.wowinterface.com/downloads/info7017-LightHeaded.html

Hmm I need to be up by 10:30 tomorrow, I guess I could go back on and raise my blacksmithing :lol:.

[Salamando3000]

I used to be quite addicted to WoW. Two lvl 80's (Priest and Shaman), a handful of 70's, and at least one alt in each of the other ten's bracket.

Now though, one bad guild killed the game for me. During the course of a couple of weeks, i was penalized for breaking rules that didn't exist, the GL ninja'd best-in-slot gear from a person pug'd into a raid, denied someone else gear because he didn't like them, and got drunk while raiding. After that, I had no real intention of raiding at all.

[Magus8472]

I played way, way too much in the pre-BC days. For me, though, it started to go downhill after that; was never quite as fun as it was back in the 40-man AQ/Naxx days. Granted I only played the expansions for a few months each. Still, it made me rather sad that they turned Naxx into such an absolute joke in WotLK; place used to be hard as nails.

[Animefalcon]

theres only 1 real hard boss raiding wise right no in WOW sadly

[georox]

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p237/theorize/WoWScrnShot_051709_223147.jpg

This made my penis grow by 10 inches. My ePeen is now over five feet long on WoW.

[SilentSinr]

I currently play a level 73 Undead Death Knight (Horde)
and I am on the realm Stonemaul
Trying to find a good guild at the moment

[TruthinessFC]

I've played and quit 2-3 times, started in the days of original WoW, and this last run going a little less than 2 years straight until I got burned out before the launch of WotLK. Have a bunch of characters but only one 70, a human holy priest. http://i40.tinypic.com/16jac4.jpg

Some other reference sites I used when I was playing:

http://www.bosskillers.com/
http://www.warcraftpets.com/ - Vanity pets
http://shadowpriest.com/ - Shadowpriest info
http://maintankadin.failsafedesign.com/ - Paladin tankery
http://elitistjerks.com/forums.php - Very helpful source for getting the most out of your class, spec, gear, especially for raiding.

http://wowjutsu.com/world/ - Rankings for raid guilds/groups
http://www.tentonhammer.com/wow/

I do miss my Winterspring Frostsaber, though.:cry:

[Mr. Anderson]

That Elitist Jerks forum is awesome, thanks for the link Truthiness!

[VioletArrows]

I have a 50 Hunter and a 40 Paladin on Bronzebeard, with some assorted lowbies on Sen'jin. Still trying to decide what class I like best. It's all interesting, but I will say this... This is one buggy as hell game. I do sort of like my guild though. Both social and progressive, and adamant about keeping the retards out.

[lilboo]

<- Level 56 Mage in Aerie Peak. <3 Cinnamon

[Superstar]

I play on twisting nether server. Does anyone else? My characters are as follows :

Despicable - 80 warlock
Kevork: 65 priest
Bubbleoseven: 25 paladin

All 3 are on the Horde side.

a few sites I use : www.projectlore.com and www.WoW.com (used to be wowinsider, they recently changed)

[Steggy]

<---- 21 Gnome Warrior - Tweedled
<---- 7 Dwarf paladin - Paladipus

Just started a week ago. On boulderfist.

[Sir_Fragalot]

Just dinged 80 on my pally on thurs. Left my previous guild on friday (because they showed NO signs of recruitment, I was their last recruit above 60 since I joined at 72 and we had no 80's yet), joined a new guild on friday and left it today (because the guild chats were god aweful annoying). Now about 15 mins going to go look for a new guild.

Ugh, I love it when you hear two people blabber on about who is better at x-box live (I mean the annoying type) over fucking guild chat. Plus the guild leader invited anyone she wanted, ugh :bomb:.

[rawrker]

Does anyone know a trustworthy legit site to sell WoW accounts at (if one even exists)? I've played now for about 4 years, have 4 80s and a DK at 73 but I will be calling it quits soon. After playing so long I'd like to get something back for it, but I'm not sure where I can pawn it off without being jacked. I know ebay doesn't allow account sales and gamepal.com quoted me $1000 for it but I have no idea how legitimate the site is :(

[VioletArrows]

None of them are 'legit', considering Blizzard doesn't want you doing it either and will ban the account, screwing both you and the person who bought it (especially once whoever he plays with finds out he doesn't know how to play your characters).

[Rocko]

I just started a little less than 2 months ago. I've got a 58 undead mage and a 60 blood elf death knight on Executus.

[brennok]

I quit wow about a week after BC came out. 40 man raids killed my enjoyment of the game. I enjoyed leveling alts more but once I hit 60 I had a tough time even doing that again.

My friend just started for the first time and I am tempted to fire the game up again. Of course every time I think about it I remember everything I didn't enjoy about the game including a montly fee. The big problem is I have absolutely nothing to play right now.

[Mr. Anderson]

I quit wow about a week after BC came out. 40 man raids killed my enjoyment of the game. I enjoyed leveling alts more but once I hit 60 I had a tough time even doing that again.

My friend just started for the first time and I am tempted to fire the game up again. Of course every time I think about it I remember everything I didn't enjoy about the game including a montly fee. The big problem is I have absolutely nothing to play right now.

Just fyi, there are no more 40 man raids. They have been made obsolete.

[Hydro2Oxide]

So my brother got me back in to the game and I'm doing a fresh start as a Blood Elf Paladin. God I hate leveling.

[Mr. Anderson]

Haven't been able to play, no internet at my place yet.

[Demolition Man]

On server Oxynia on the Alliance side. One dwarf hunter and one dwarf death knight.

[redshadow]

40-man raids were really the glory days for this game. The newer 25-man content is pretty stale.

[Ryukahn]

40-man raids were really the glory days for this game. The newer 25-man content is pretty stale.

I agree. I was an officer for one of the top guilds in vanilla wow, and had a blast in 40 man content. BC comes along and kills my guild, and raiding wasn't fun after that. I did like the closeness of 10 man raiding though that were introduced in WOTLK.

I let my subscription lapse a few weeks ago, mainly due to boredom but also due to the fact that my PC has been in and out of the repair shop (lost about 6 weeks of prepaid time thanks to that), so I didn't want to renew with all these issues still happening. The new patch seems promising though. The emblem change is a hot topic, but for someone that likes to have a lot of alts, I like it.

[Dogpatch]

I've been playing since last august. So far have 3 80's (hunter, pally, dk) and the rest of the classes in the 30s. Mage and shaman probably going to get more play time. These toons are on Azuremyst.

Have a few horde toons on other servers though they are all fairly low. Scaling back the time i play right now since it started to become to much of a routine. Also waiting on the new computer i have coming. Maybe i can actually enjoy wintergrasp without lagging so bad.

[Sir_Fragalot]

I did my first raid last night in wrath(naxx 25, only for one quarter), and I enjoyed it for a change. I realized that I hate raiding a lot. It's not the raid itself but the fact that I need to spend 5+ hours in front of my computer doing a raid (and ONLY the raid) and hope everything goes well. I have gotten to the point where I don't think I can do that anymore.

On a depressing note, I looted my tier 7 legplates from Naxx 25 last night and I bought the gloves from badge gear and if I didn't get the 10% crit chance to holy shock I only would of gained like 7 spell power and 1000 armor (one piece was mail but as a healer it didn't matter) so raiding doesn't interest me much and my gear is still good.

[typeRJ]

I did my first raid last night in wrath(naxx 25, only for one quarter), and I enjoyed it for a change. I realized that I hate raiding a lot. It's not the raid itself but the fact that I need to spend 5+ hours in front of my computer doing a raid (and ONLY the raid) and hope everything goes well. I have gotten to the point where I don't think I can do that anymore.

On a depressing note, I looted my tier 7 legplates from Naxx 25 last night and I bought the gloves from badge gear and if I didn't get the 10% crit chance to holy shock I only would of gained like 7 spell power and 1000 armor (one piece was mail but as a healer it didn't matter) so raiding doesn't interest me much and my gear is still good.


My girlfriend doesn't like raiding for more than two hours either. But she hasn't given up on it. It's worth doing with your guildmates, friends or just people you like on your server.

I would say don't give up on raiding completely if 4-5 hours raids (or even broken into two sessions) are not for you. Have you tried other non-Naxx/Ulduar raids?

Obsidian Sanctum (Dragonsblight)
10-man: T7 Glove Token
25-man: T7.5 Glove Token

Vault of Archavon (Wintergrasp)

Archavon (easier boss)
10-man: T7 Gloves and Chest Token, Hateful Gladiator PvP gear (Season 5, 10-man quality)
25-man: T7.5 Gloves and Chest Token, Deadly Gladiator PvP gear (Season 5, 25-man quality)

Emalon (hard boss)
10-man: T8 Gloves and Legs Token, Season 5 Deadly Gladiator including non-set such as rings, cloaks, trinkets
25-man: T8.5 Gloves and Legs Token, Season 6 Furious Gladiator gear including non-set (superior 25-man quality)

Note that even though PvP gear may be raid quality, but in a raid the resilience stats will do you no good and tend to have lower stats than the PvE equivalent. They're good stop gaps until you get something more in line with your gear.

These are really really easy. Both of these raids can take between 20 min and 45 min, depending on your group's ability and if you wipe or not. I easily geared for both my specs (elemental and resto shaman) by pugging these two raids.

And if you're confident enough, try Eye of Eternity (Malygos). That doesn't take too long either, but it's tricky and the first time will probably be a learning experience. Loot is top notch.

[SilentSinr]

I recently started playing again after a few months break (i started last week i believe) and I am really enjoying playing on my dk...i just dinged lvl 78 like 10 or 20 mins ago

i do have a question that i am hoping someone can answer for me, where do they move the pvp gear vendors too? ...a lot of them are still where they were in org, but when i was there i didn't see the vendor that sells the 70 pvp weapon gear...i saw basically everything else...60 pvp weapons...70 pvp armor...80 pvp armor..

probably wont end up trying to get a 70 sword like i was intending too because i am close enough to 80 that i think i can hold off till then

just wanted to know for future reference

thanks

[NamelessMC]

The Casual stuff brought me back.

I was anti-WoW for a while, you can check my post history.

I picked it up again recently, friend let me use her account and now that it got hacked I'm going to pick it up and get my own account.

I leveled a DK to 80 because I did 6 of the original vanilla jobs to 60 before BC and wanted to try something new.

First - 10-man/Heroic 5-man. The deal is the same as doing UBRS or the like back in the old days, except the gear has been itemized to allow you access to the hard stuff. It's a great job by Blizzard because only being able to do end-game content if you were in a 40-man guild was very discouraging and didn't allow you to act without consequence. You had to walk on egg shells or you'd get "blacklisted" by raiding guilds. Now? Say whatever you want, because you can get epic gear in pugs.

Second - PVP. It's so dimensional now. There's arenas, big area/zones like Wintergrasp, gear rewards/mounts. It's crazy, the competition is so high. People say it killed world PVP, but world PVP sucked. The only people who enjoyed it were people who liked ganking lower level players or doing nothing with their time. It served no purpose and people never went anywhere with it. You'd start out at Crossroads or Southshore, you start winning, you try to sack Undercity or Orgrimmar/Iron Forge but people stop following you because of how long of a run it is or you get picked off or the sheer amount of opposing faction come in and destroy you, it falls apart.

Zoned/controlled PVP makes sure the fight is interesting enough for people to get into it.

The emblem/recruit a friend/heirloom system is fantastic. Right now I'm going to get 300% for leveling with the person who recruited me, on top of that, when I hit 80 with one toon, I can send heirloom gear to my alts. Basically gear that levels with you and remains as good as "good blues" your level. At level 80, a 2h axe has the max dmg and DPS of a level 80 heroic blue. But you never have to upgrade it. You can keep it on you from level 1-80. The same for the shoulders you get, but they also give you a 10% bonus experience buff.

Blizzard also increased the quested XP you get in pre-BC.

Also, go to Wow-pro and get Jame's alliance in-game guide. I just barely started using it, but I can tell already, this mod will get me past the boring 1-60 levels super fast.

[LordKefka06]

I just got back from a 2 year absence since we moved and couldn't get decent internet, but now a better ISP came to us.

I play on Dark Iron with alliance & Ner'zhul with horde. I just decided to try a BE warlock, & Man, I forgot how brutal it is to level a cloth caster for the first 30 levels.

My main is a lvl 61 (just turned that) so it sucks since i havn't and wont be able to experience the 40M raids like Zul'Gurub, Onyxia, & MC, but from hearing what people have been saying about them it doesn't look like I'm missing out on that much. I just really want to try 1 of them once, mainly ZG.

And also, here is a link (http://www.worldofraids.com/guides/5-patch/131-patch-3-2-info-compilation.html) to a compilation of the patch notes, organized very nicely. (Does anybody have any clue on when patch 3.2 is going live?)

@ Warlocks. Since they are lowering the lvl 60 epic ground mount down to lvl 40 for 60g total for mount and training, and along with that the dreadsteed quest will be brought down to lvl 40. How will that work out, since its around a total of 450g to finish the quest? My guess is that blizzard will make it learnable at a trainer without having to do the quest, and it'll be free.

[jalu6]

Blizzard also increased the quested XP you get in pre-BC.


They did it for BC once Wrath came out also, its much faster now.

And if you're into the casual stuff, once 3.2 hits, the level requirement for mounts is way down also. I forget the exact numbers, but now I think you get mounts at 20, and epics at 40? And you can fly at 60?

It seems pretty nuts compared to what it was in 1.0, but basically, if you want to level, now is the time to do it.

[blackjaw]

@ Warlocks. Since they are lowering the lvl 60 epic ground mount down to lvl 40 for 60g total for mount and training, and along with that the dreadsteed quest will be brought down to lvl 40. How will that work out, since its around a total of 450g to finish the quest? My guess is that blizzard will make it learnable at a trainer without having to do the quest, and it'll be free.

When you hit level 61 with a Warlock or Paladin you can buy the "skill" from your trainer for like five gold that gives you the dreadsteed/charger...no quest needed anymore. If you do the quest, you get an achievement, but who cares.

Why they made it 61 instead of 60 was probably to encourage people to do the quest but nobody does. It's easier to go to do Burning Crusade stuff for a level then go back and get it. With the upcoming mount changes, I can imagine they will give you the skill at either level 40 or 41, trainable.

[LordKefka06]

From what I read, you can learn the mount for cheap, but you need to do the quest to get re 150 riding skill, but the quest is about 450g

[blackjaw]

From what I read, you can learn the mount for cheap, but you need to do the quest to get re 150 riding skill, but the quest is about 450g

You don't need to do the quest anymore. Last fall I leveled a Paladin and Warlock up with a buddy using the recruit a friend bonus and neither of us did the mount quests. We just bought the riding skill and at level 61 went back to our trainers and bought the "summon spell" that gave the mount.

[Logg]

I played this game about 2 or 3 years ago.

But all these changes and what not I think I am downloading the trail and might get back into.

[sendme]

I played for 30 days or so when wrath came out just to try it out. The server I was on is dead or was at that time. The server was chogall and I was alliance. Did they or anyone know if they plan on changing it for the doomguard so you don't have to do the quest?

[pfp]

Does anyone know about licensing for WoW?

My wife has been playing for some time - apparently there was something going on with Lich King that only one license was needed per household - everyone was apparently really happy about not needing to buy 3 copies for their roommates, etc.

I'm interested in starting to dabble in it, but fuck the idea of buying additional copies of the game we've already paid for - if it came down to that, I just won't start playing. I don't mind the $15 a month for another account, I just don't want to pay the $30-50 per game/expansion.


So to cut from the babbling, my question is:

Since we're in the same household, are my wife and I both allowed to have accounts on her serial number, or would I need to buy additional serials of the game and expansions?

and if I DO end up just giving up and buying it, what's the "cheapest way" to go? it looks like, since BattleChest only has 1 free month, it's to buy them separately and take advantage of a free month each with WoW and burning - is this right?

[Ryukahn]

You can't have 2 accounts on the same serial number IIRC. Your best option is to purchase a Battlechest which will give you a free month. Before you activate the serial number, have your wife use the recruit a friend feature to send you an invite. Sign up for an account with that invite, then right before the trial is over, use the serial numbers to turn the account into a full account. You will get a free month from the battle chest, and after you pay for your first month, your wife will get a free month thanks to the Recruit a friend feature. If you stay for 3 months, your wife will also get an exclusive in game mount to use for one of her characters. Also, you and your wife will get triple XP if you level up characters together. This triple xp lasts until 60. Be advised that the trial account only allows you to level up to 20, so if you hit that before the trial is up (you should really easily) just activate the account early.

Sorry for wall of text, but hope that helps!

[Rocko]

Finally got my DK to 80. :D

[Musichead13]

Did they or anyone know if they plan on changing it for the doomguard so you don't have to do the quest?

They haven't changed it as of yet and i doubt they will. The quests aren't really too bad and I believe only the last quest in the chain requires you to be a higher level or have a player helping you.

[JJSP]

Just started out a Tauren Shaman and a Draenei Paladin. Don't really know what the hell I'm doing, but I'm trying.

[Demolition Man]

Finally got my DK to 80. :D

:applause:

I've been holding off until 3.2 is running before doing much with my DK. Especially with all the changes I feel its better off that I wait a bit since things will be a bit easier.

[Rocko]

It's my first 80- started a mage with a friend that's been playing for a while with Refer-A-Friend, but for the RAF bonus we had to play together, so when I could make a DK I did so I could play whenever I wanted to with that character. By the time I could level alone with my mage, I was already really into the DK. Soloing with the mage isn't as fun as the DK since my DK can tear through pretty much anything with ease, as far as leveling goes.

[LordKefka06]

Who here thinks Palys & DKs are way OPed?

I think its safe to say that either one of them could face-roll and still win. :)

[Sir_Fragalot]

Who here thinks Palys & DKs are way OPed?

I think its safe to say that either one of them could face-roll and still win. :)

I play paladin. I can solo waves of mobs forever without stopping with holy gear in prot spec.

I will agree pally's are overpowered. Also DK's are too.

[LordKefka06]

Wow, I just discovered how easy you can get a group of 80s to run you through onyxia is, along with guild runs.

My guild never really did raiding knights for all the lvl 60 instances, but I got it setup where every Friday we do a raid. Last Friday we dis onyxia and now this Friday we plan on doing hakkar, then BWL & MC.

[LordKefka06]

What would you guys say is the most money making professions end-game. I would say Enchanting/Mining/Fishing? Am I correct?

I personally was going LW/Skinning for my hunter but figured i might as well just drop LW, keep skinning, & get enchanting. Since I dont want to be wasting all that leather for gear when i would just be replacing it with instance armor, or just pay a LW to make it for me with the mats i already have with skinning.

[psionicjinx]

What would you guys say is the most money making professions end-game. I would say Enchanting/Mining/Fishing? Am I correct?

I personally was going LW/Skinning for my hunter but figured i might as well just drop LW, keep skinning, & get enchanting. Since I dont want to be wasting all that leather for gear when i would just be replacing it with instance armor, or just pay a LW to make it for me with the mats i already have with skinning.

When I was playing, I was enchanting. I'd just link my enchants and take tips. It adds up very quickly. Mining also does very well for gathering. You can auction house stacks of ore for a bit (depending on your server economy).

[Sir_Fragalot]

What would you guys say is the most money making professions end-game. I would say Enchanting/Mining/Fishing? Am I correct?

I personally was going LW/Skinning for my hunter but figured i might as well just drop LW, keep skinning, & get enchanting. Since I dont want to be wasting all that leather for gear when i would just be replacing it with instance armor, or just pay a LW to make it for me with the mats i already have with skinning.

Just a heads up Enchanting is going to be hell to level up. Unless you don't mind instance grinding low level ones for greens/blues Enchanting is going to be hell because the mats are not cheap on the AH. I have a 64 warlock who just broke 315 enchanting last night and it is not fun. Mining is a hell of a lot easier.

[LordKefka06]

How is enchanting for gold cost to lvl up, buy rods, & recipes?

[psionicjinx]

How is enchanting for gold cost to lvl up, buy rods, & recipes?

I bought my way up to 375. I think it took about 6k buying up mats from the auction house (pre-wrath). If you just want to level it, you don't really need to buy many recipes. The drop rate is also a lot better for them, so you can grind some out if you want. If you have a blacksmith, you can make your own rods also.

The mats become a lot easier to get if you level enchanting when you start questing in Northrend. I just disenchanted all the quest items I got and leveled it that way. The last few points, I did free enchanting for people and got my last points like that.

[rumarudrathas]

Gawd, my Fiance is going to chop off my bits if she ever saw me fire up WoW again...

But when I was fairly active, I was a casual level 74 Tauren Druid on Greymane by the name of Jihnaea (http://www.wowarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Greymane&n=Jihnaea), balanced spec with a bit of Resto power for 2-mans and the occasional dungeon dive.

[LordKefka06]

Wife aggro... Lol.

And I have all the rods & mats already to get me to 425. So i should be set. I also have 37 lvl 60 epics waiting to be DE. The bad parr is I'm only 125, but I should be too 300 by tomorrow.

[Musichead13]

If you're looking to make money doing a profession, I would take herbalism or jewelcrafting. There's always a need for mana potions and flasks, especially with high end dungeons and raids. Gems for gear is always in demand with people constantly getting new gear. Jewelcrafting is also beneficial if you're planning to make it to end game raiding, as the jewelcrafting specific gems are very powerful.

[LordKefka06]

Bump

[BREVITY]

Can I use a single copy of the game to install on my Mac and PC or do I have to buy a copy for each? Tnx I am thinking of returning after nearly 4 years out.

[Salamando3000]

Can I use a single copy of the game to install on my Mac and PC or do I have to buy a copy for each? Tnx I am thinking of returning after nearly 4 years out.

You'll only need one. You can install the game on however many machines you want, but only one can be logged into a given account at a time.


In other news, looks like 3.2 is going live tomorrow....which means no one here should count on playing WoW tomorrow. Patch days kill the game for at least a day.

[Fuzi0n]

My sub ran out at the end of the month and I'm debating on weather to play for one more month just to play around with patch 3.2. I really want to try out the new battle ground. I haven't raided in sometime now and I'm not to keen on the new dungeon. Looks like every week they will introduce a new boss with 4 different modes?

I'm curious how many other CAGs are/were hardcore WoW players. I've played a few different classes but that last one I've played (the most) is my mage (link is in my sig).

PS - I've been playing on and off since April 2005 (mostly on, and haven't played much for the past month and a half) and for the most part I've played Horde on Kil'Jaeden server.

[ddrlenz]

Sorinn on Blackhand (US)

[trq]

Bumpity bump bump.

I basically took all of BC off after playing Vanilla for a couple of months, but 2008 has been a little underwhelming for me console-wise so far, so I got back into WoW a couple of months ago, and finally leveled my Tauren Shaman to 80. So:

Pridehoof, on Thorium Brotherhood, and a stupid amount of sub-40 alts.

It seems like CAGS are scattered all over the servers, but I wonder if some kind of CAG guild might not be possible somehow.

[Number83]

Onyxia is coming back, tuned for Level 80.

"My cave was merely a setback..."-Onyxia


She has lurked in her lair and done battle with the many brave adventurers who travelled to that familiar location over the years. Now, in honor of the World of Warcraft 5-year anniversary, the dreaded brood mother Onyxia is being revamped to make a return to the forefront of Azeroth, as part of our big plans for the upcoming 3.2.2 content patch.

This permanent update to Onyxia will convert the dungeon into 10- and 25-player modes. We will be adding new items to Onyxia’s loot table that have the same model as some of the classic loot from this dungeon, like Tier 2 helms, with stats updated to match the current level of content. There will be a special new item too: a normal drake-sized 310% speed flying mount modeled after Onyxia herself called an Onyxia Broodling. We will also be updating the encounter mechanics to be more fitting for modern raiding, but we can guarantee players will get to experience the frightening horror of deep breaths once again.

Then for a limited time, after the 5-year anniversary event officially begins in November, anybody who logs in will receive an Onyxia Brood Whelpling pet.

We’re very excited to bring this classic encounter back to provide a fun new experience for both new and veteran players. Further details will be available in the near future, and we will be setting up the Public Test Realms soon to help test out this fight along with all the new content we have planned for the patch. Keep an eye on the forums for updates!

-Ansalem Lvl 80 Warrior - Cenarius

[Lorddraco07]

Too bad the game is pretty broken right now. On my server it is anyway. I'm so sick of seeing Additional instances cannot be launched, please try later for hours on end. All I wanted to do was run through Mana-Tombs lol.

[LordKefka06]

Same here, 1 of my servers getsthat message 9/10 I try and do an instance. =(

And also, dammit 'number83' you took my chance to claim glory for reporting that onyxia info. I just noticed it right after you posted that. =)

[Fuzi0n]

I haven't had any problems launching instances since the patch but I have seen the complaints on all kinds of forums. Maybe its because I don't step a foot into any instances besides the new raid and Ulduar.

Also has anyone done the new Champions raid? A bit disapointing how easy it has been, I really hope the hard modes get a lot more challenging.

Well tomorrows BlizzCon and everyone is expecting to see Cataclysm expansion to be announced along with the 2 new races. From what it sounds like they will be trying to regurgitate the original WoW to some degree (assuming the the rumors are correct).

[LordKefka06]

http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/697056/Blizzard-Trademarks-Cataclysm---Is-This-A-New-Game-Or-WoW-Expansion.html?utm_source=g4tv&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=TheFeed

http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/698172/Rumor-Says-Next-World-of-Warcraft-Races-Revealed.html

[Fuzi0n]

A lot more rumors here at mmo-champ. (http://www.mmo-champion.com/index.php?topic=92919.0)

[Salamando3000]

http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/cataclysm/

[Magus8472]

Worgen?

I wonder how many bad Teen Wolf jokes the starting zone will have.

[plasticbathmonki]

Worgen?

I wonder how many bad Teen Wolf jokes the starting zone will have.


I was going to say "wolf man has nards," but that works too! :lol:

[Hakilla]

Recruit a Friend

Recruit a Friend in World of Warcraft.
Pm me if you are interested. You get 10 days FREE play time.

Scroll of Resurrection:

Invite a friend that has left World of Warcraft to return with a FREE 10-Day Trial of the Burning Crusade. If your friend reactivates their account and pays for a month of gametime, you will receive a month of WoW FREE! You can only invite someone who was once a paid subscriber and last played the game more than 90 days ago. PM me if interested.

[LordKefka06]

Big bump.

I'm really interested in this, since this was my biggest complaint right before I took my most recent break.

Pick-Up Groups



Cross-realm instances are now available and use an improved matchmaking system to assist players in looking for additional party members. As with Battlegrounds, the realms in each Battlegroup are connected.

-----

Planning on starting WOW back up again after a ~5 month break. It's just so damn addicting.

By the way, I'm horde on Nerzhul & alliance on Dark Iron.

-----

At the moment, what do you guys think is more important for end-game: Healer or Tank?

[Salamando3000]

Man, I had all but forgotten about this thread.

Oh yeah, the new LFG tool is damned awesome. In my battlegroup, Healers and Tanks can get in a group for any Heroic in under a minute. DPS classes usually take a bit longer, but always under 15 minutes. Worth noting that it's only for use with 5-man instances, not the raids. With the right spec, you can do 3-4 instances an hour and get a ton of badges.

[LordKefka06]

Looking For Raid



There is a new Looking For Raid option available to players that can be accessed via the Raid Information screen in the interface or by typing "/LFR."


Players will be able to browse the system manually for any other players looking for a raid dungeon group.
While browsing LFR players may sort the list ascending or descending by left-clicking the following headers: Name, Level, Class, Tank Role, Healer Role, and Damage Role. The crown is the Leader Role (representing a raid group with 2 or more people). Players can left-click on this header to sort the list with groups at the top or at the bottom.
Hovering over players listed in LFR will display their name, class, level, roles and comments. Hovering over a raid/group will display the leader's name, the raid information (number of people in the raid), comments, if there are any bosses dead (and which ones), and if there are any friends from your Friends list or ignored players from your Ignore list in the raid group.



The Looking For Group chat channel has returned and can be accessed in all major cities (similar to the Trade chat channel) without the use of the Dungeon Finder interface.


-----

Salamando, what do you think is more valuable/needed for end game: Healers or Tanks?

-----

It would be cool if you could manually pick out people for the LFR, even if they aren't in your battlegroup. That way we could actually get some CAG raiding nights going.

[Salamando3000]

the Looking for Raid tool is fairly different from the Looking for Group tool. The key differences being the LFG tool is automatic and groups you with other LFG chars in your battlegroup, where the Looking For Raid tool isn't, and only works inside your server.

In terms of which is more valuable (healer or tank), I can't give a clear answer. In pick up groups, both are usually in high demand. I've seen just as many raids get stalled by a lack of healers as I've seen get stalled by a lack of tank. If you're looking to join a raiding guild, they almost always have a set of tanks they prefer to run with, so I couldn't really see going that route (unless you're insanely geared).

Or you could spend enough time to gear up both specs. The dual-spec system they have in place allows you to easily switch between talent specs (don't know how familiar you are with dual-specs).

[LordKefka06]

I've been a player since it came out, but I've taken about 5 breaks throughout that period (my longest is 2 years). I'm pretty sure it was right after patch 3.2 that I canceled my subscription. So that's about 4 months?

Either way, thanks for the answer, Salamando.

[LordKefka06]

Here is a link (http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=24038460683&sid=1) to some of the class changes coming in CC. They are also changing Rage (http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=24038740387&sid=1) & how Dispelling works (http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=24038610691&sid=1).

Also here are 2 good links for all the other released CC info: Here (http://www.wowwiki.com/Portal:Cataclysm) & Here (http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=19377467311&sid=1).

[Superstar]

Anyone play on Twisting nether?

My main is a warlock and I have been reading the warlock changes and I am not sure how i feel about them. Sure they sound cool but it will be a lot different. I guess that goes for more classes so far. Cata will be a big change for sure.

[lilboo]

So I've been a Mage for quite sometime. Been looking for an alt, but really can't seem to find what I like better :-\
I tried a Hunter, Priest, Warlock, Pally, and my latest: a Druid. Maybe I'm just used to being a Mage.. lol
Though, my Hunter is now level 51 so I might just take that character to 80. Maybe once I'm 80 and fully geared and have some really awesome pets.. it'll be fun. /shrug

I do think it'll come down between Warlock and Druid. I miiight lean towards Druid because it'll give me a chance to have an off-spec healing and I could eventually learn how to heal.

I don't know where this is going. I'm bored and I hate Tuesdays.

[Salamando3000]

As nice as the class previews were, it left me wanting the new talent trees even more. My two main specs (Shadow priest and Elem shammy) have lots of "boring" talents that will end up removed. Some of the hints as to what they'd be replaced with (Shammies get Earthquake as a ranged AOE? About time) have some awesome potential.

[georox]

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p237/theorize/WoWScrnShot_041410_235932.jpg

Bam. Chicken!

[Kevfactor]

square should sue hehe

[georox]

I keep humming the Chocobo Race song while riding it.


I'm not joking.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p237/theorize/WoWScrnShot_041510_130505.jpg

Today's mount.

[Spacepest]

I keep humming the Chocobo Race song while riding it.


I'm not joking.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p237/theorize/WoWScrnShot_041510_130505.jpg

Today's mount.

OMFG.

Ghost pegasus.

For sale in the Blizzard store.

*so wants*

[Salamando3000]

Extremely cool looking mount, but like hell if I'm paying 25$ for it.

[Hydro2Oxide]

Funny this thread should be res'd, I just got back in to the game a few days ago. Need to buy WotLK though =/

69 hunter, god what a fun class. I slipped right back in to my binds as if I had never left. Love this friggin game.

[Lawyers Guns N Money]

Extremely cool looking mount, but like hell if I'm paying 25$ for it.
I guess they figure they can charge $10 for a virtual pet that does nothing, this actually does something, so they can charge 2.5 times that.

I mean, hell, for $25 you can get a whole new game....

[KaOTiK]

I guess they figure they can charge $10 for a virtual pet that does nothing, this actually does something, so they can charge 2.5 times that.

I mean, hell, for $25 you can get a whole new game....

At least it is BoA so you never need to buy a mount for your alts again as it goes by your riding skill level, so it isn't totally a bad deal.

[georox]

Yea, it's *every* character on your account, and it scales with riding skill, and if you earn a 310% mount, that goes 310%. It's pretty nice, never have to buy mounts again. =P

[Magus8472]

Bam. Chicken!

Having the Bloodsail Admiral title is already incontrovertible proof that you've played far too much WoW.

[Spacepest]

Looks like these new flying mounts are going to be popular.

Just took this on my server around noon. Imagine the sparkly chaos that is going to erupt when school and work get out.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/GoodyGumdrop/WoW/WoWScrnShot_041510_132249.jpg

[georox]

Having the Bloodsail Admiral title is already incontrovertible proof that you've played far too much WoW.

22 platinum trophies? Shut your whore mouth you wench.

[Magus8472]

22 platinum trophies? Shut your whore mouth you wench.

I'll take them over your stupid hat. :D

[georox]

I'll take them over your stupid hat. :D

My stupid hat at least gets me a virtual pet. Your trophies don't even do that.

[Hydro2Oxide]

Looks like these new flying mounts are going to be popular.

Just took this on my server around noon. Imagine the sparkly chaos that is going to erupt when school and work get out.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/GoodyGumdrop/WoW/WoWScrnShot_041510_132249.jpg

Look! It's $125!

[LordKefka06]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCjuFpQ3EeA&feature=player_embedded

[Jodou]

Seems at least 80,000 droolers summoned mommy to buy them a virtual horse in the first four hours that thing was available. Just goes to show that Blizzard would be smart to transition to a micro-payment model over sub, now that their playerbase has stagnated at ~12 mil.

[Hydro2Oxide]

Seems at least 80,000 droolers summoned mommy to buy them a virtual horse in the first four hours that thing was available. Just goes to show that Blizzard would be smart to transition to a micro-payment model over sub, now that their playerbase has stagnated at ~12 mil.

They obviously are doing something very right with their current model, I doubt they'd shake it up much. I'm sure if they make it so that if you pay money you get in combat benefits, tons of people will stop playing who don't want to pay for Tier XX armor.

[Jodou]

They obviously are doing something very right with their current model, I doubt they'd shake it up much. I'm sure if they make it so that if you pay money you get in combat benefits, tons of people will stop playing who don't want to pay for Tier XX armor.
I doubt they'd be dumb enough to add anything that changes gameplay over stupid shit like mounts.

[Guerrilla]

Yea, it's *every* character on your account, and it scales with riding skill, and if you earn a 310% mount, that goes 310%. It's pretty nice, never have to buy mounts again. =P
This is the only upside I really see: it saves 161g per character (assuming one would buy a mount at every riding level). Thus, it's technically better than a vanity pet.

[kilm]

I doubt they'd be dumb enough to add anything that changes gameplay over stupid shit like mounts.

Only thing dumb would be people who think it would be a smart idea for Blizzard to switch from subscription to micro-transactions. Now that's some stupid shit!

[Spacepest]

Wow, alot of hate for a sparkly pony that doesn't affect others gameplay in any way. The QQing on my server's trade chat was epic ("We wanted to grind Alganon over and over again to get it! Now EVERYONE has a sparkly horse!")

I logged in last night and my ENTIRE guild was lined up with star horsies. And someone bought that new noncombat vanity pet with the annoying sound effects ("I DONT THINK IT BENDS THAT WAY"). Then I LOLed when I saw the server's hardcore raiders had bought the new ponies too (these people have all the cool mounts through gameplay and they went out and bought one too? ). It seems like alot of people paid for them on my server.

[Lawyers Guns N Money]

I can't believe people are paying this. I thought the pets were overpriced at $10. $5 for a pet (or less) and $10 for a mount would make more sense, IMO.

[georox]

This is the only upside I really see: it saves 161g per character (assuming one would buy a mount at every riding level). Thus, it's technically better than a vanity pet.

OH, it's not about the gold to me, it's about the laziness factor. I don't want to bother finding a mount vendor, I just want to pay NPC 1 riding skill and move.

[TheCapn010]

WoW is an evil thing, it's name should be banished from the human vernacular. [-(
Causing kids to stick remotes up their :booty:, TSK TSK.

[georox]

WoW is an evil thing, it's name should be banished from the human vernacular. [-(
Causing kids to stick remotes up their :booty:, TSK TSK.

Only if they abolish Facebook, MySpace, the Nintendo Wii, every free to play Korean MMO, and all of that Twilight shit.

[Survivalism]

One thing I always say about WoW is that I'm glad I don't like paying monthly fees. I hardly go outside as it is.

[Jodou]

Only if they abolish Facebook, MySpace, the Nintendo Wii, every free to play Korean MMO, and all of that Twilight shit.
I approve of this.

[dothog]

Only thing dumb would be people who think it would be a smart idea for Blizzard to switch from subscription to micro-transactions. Now that's some stupid shit!
What would be truly dumb would be for Blizz to ignore 140K in immediate sales of a $25 starry mount.

Who says they have to abandon the subscription? Micro-transactions could supplement that. They're not going to sell off purples, but they certainly could sell off armor/weapons to accelerate the journey to level cap. Heirlooms are an obvious target. Big bags. Trinkets to provide more hearths, extra gem slots, whatever the hell else.

They can monetize all of this without harming the endgame and pissing off the hardcore raiders. It'll work out, because it'll just give the hardcore another badge of honor: getting to level cap/endgame without microtransactions.

[georox]

What would be truly dumb would be for Blizz to ignore 140K in immediate sales of a $25 starry mount.

Who says they have to abandon the subscription? Micro-transactions could supplement that. They're not going to sell off purples, but they certainly could sell off armor/weapons to accelerate the journey to level cap. Heirlooms are an obvious target. Big bags. Trinkets to provide more hearths, extra gem slots, whatever the hell else.

They can monetize all of this without harming the endgame and pissing off the hardcore raiders. It'll work out, because it'll just give the hardcore another badge of honor: getting to level cap/endgame without microtransactions.

Extra gem slots would piss off raiders, and heirloom items have the possibility to as well. Bags would fuck over tailors, so that's a no. The things they should focus on selling are the items they used in the TCG/items like that, aka pets, mounts, cosmetic items. Anything that actually affects gameplay should be left alone, but trinkets that shoot fireworks, chairs you can have out for a few minutes at a time, etc. all work well.

Oh, and I don't see why everyone worries about hardcore people/raiders/etc. as they are in the minority on the game, they just happen to have the largest mouth and bitch the most. None of them will leave, look how many times everyone threatens to quit to begin with.

[Salamando3000]

The new expansion is doing a lot that will have more people rolling new characters...the entire "old world" is getting revamped, killing many of the annoying leveling quests...there's new race/class combinations...and new races altogether. Hell, you could argue that Cataclysm is doing more for the levellers than it is for the raiders. So, I don't see it happening where Blizz decides to make pay-for content that'll give levellers an edge.

Not to mention the vitriol it would draw from twinks.

Ever since in-game rewards for the TCG were announced, Blizz said the only in-game rewards would be fun, non-game affecting stuff. Such sentiments were repeated when Achievements with rewards were announced. They've done nothing to betray that as far as I'm concerned. No mount or pet or anything they've put out affects my gameplay negatively (unless I get jealous). If they do put out something that does, then they'll draw some ire, but that's a bridge I'll cross when they actually make it.

As for the horse in particular...if people want it, and are willing to pay for it, I don't really see the problem. You may argue it's too expensive, but if someone wants to pay $25 for a horse made of stars, why not let them? I'm not penalized for not buying it, the money's not coming from my pocket, and my game is left unchanged.

[dothog]

...if people want it, and are willing to pay for it, I don't really see the problem.
I agree completely, and I'd say the same if they offered up more mounts, gear, items for cash. What's the problem?

Everyone can walk all over arbitrary possibilities (e.g. fucks over tailors, extra gem slots might piss off hardcore, etc.) the same way others denied that server transfers and race/class/faction realignment was possible. If there's money in it and it doesn't create a huge imbalance, it's open for business.

The Cataclysm changes, to me, suggest that Blizz could possibly further open pre-level cap toons, casuals, and collectors to microtransactions. They're going in that direction, and I don't understand why this line is drawn, when similar lines have been breached in the past. I honestly don't think it would take anything away from the game to monetize certain kinds of gear the same way they've done the mounts. If somebody wants to pay for that, let them.

People are calling the mounts and pets for $$ a "slippery slope," but I think it's a naive perspective. Blizz/ATVI know what they're doing here. They've seen the response. I'm sure they realize that if they offer up gear that shaves time off the trivial, early going material in a manner similar to heirlooms, people will buy that up enough to warrant putting it out there. There's a lot of in-game conveniences for early toons that Blizz can provide through microtransactions.

Again, I'm not saying it's going to happen, but the response to that mount makes it much more likely in my mind. I wouldn't have predicted 140K people would want to pay $25 for a mount that saves them a couple hundred -- for even the most pronounced case of altitis a thousand or so -- gold across their toons. I'd call that response overwhelming. It clearly indicates a market for microtransactions, and again, just because Blizz might've drawn some line doesn't mean they'll abide it, hundreds of millions of easy cash be damned.

[Hydro2Oxide]

I agree completely, and I'd say the same if they offered up more mounts, gear, items for cash. What's the problem?

Everyone can walk all over arbitrary possibilities (e.g. fucks over tailors, extra gem slots might piss off hardcore, etc.) the same way others denied that server transfers and race/class/faction realignment was possible. If there's money in it and it doesn't create a huge imbalance, it's open for business.

The Cataclysm changes, to me, suggest that Blizz could possibly further open pre-level cap toons, casuals, and collectors to microtransactions. They're going in that direction, and I don't understand why this line is drawn, when similar lines have been breached in the past. I honestly don't think it would take anything away from the game to monetize certain kinds of gear the same way they've done the mounts. If somebody wants to pay for that, let them.

People are calling the mounts and pets for $$ a "slippery slope," but I think it's a naive perspective. Blizz/ATVI know what they're doing here. They've seen the response. I'm sure they realize that if they offer up gear that shaves time off the trivial, early going material in a manner similar to heirlooms, people will buy that up enough to warrant putting it out there. There's a lot of in-game conveniences for early toons that Blizz can provide through microtransactions.

Again, I'm not saying it's going to happen, but the response to that mount makes it much more likely in my mind. I wouldn't have predicted 140K people would want to pay $25 for a mount that saves them a couple hundred -- for even the most pronounced case of altitis a thousand or so -- gold across their toons. I'd call that response overwhelming. It clearly indicates a market for microtransactions, and again, just because Blizz might've drawn some line doesn't mean they'll abide it, hundreds of millions of easy cash be damned.

I will never have a problem with 'cash shops' as long as they don't offer a significantly improved experience or provide an edge on other players. Now I'm glad that Blizzard are one of the few developers I can trust not to go sour but Activision definitely seems to be a presence there now, despite them saying the buyout was only in name.

[georox]

Oh, and honestly, anything paid to help leveling is BAD. Leveling = time, time = monthly fees collected. The last thing they want is people doing content faster.

Oh, and people paid $1,000+ for spectral tigers, remember that. That my friends, is elitism in premium items. One in over a case of booster boxes isn't very fair by all means. $25 is nothing in comparison. Most people can come up with $25, if you are struggling over it, you probably shouldn't be playing WoW in the first place, let's be honest, the game takes a lot of time and it does cost money. Most of the complaints are from children who can't get their parents credit cards.

I will voice my one complaint though, I see it potentially (Note, potentially) cutting content out that they could have given players as rewards through things such as achievements, drops, reputations, events, etc. so that the pets and such can be sold instead. Now, if future patches/expansions start introducing fewer and fewer pets and mounts while more go on sale in the store, I'll begin to think Blizzard is up to something.

[Spacepest]

Saturday night, my server-

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/GoodyGumdrop/WoW/moneytrain.jpg

[Hydro2Oxide]

Oh god, it's going to be the new iPhone.

[dothog]

Oh, and honestly, anything paid to help leveling is BAD. Leveling = time, time = monthly fees collected. The last thing they want is people doing content faster.
Hyperbole much? I don't follow that at all. Even the slowest of slow bastards don't take more than 3 or 4 months to hit the cap. You could make an argument in the opposite direction, that for some gamers, the tedium of 1-70 forces them to quit because they aren't able to participate with capped or near-cap friends. This in turn leads to potential lifers quitting the game too early!!!

There's already a currency (shards, emblems, etc.) built into the game to accommodate convenience items like heirlooms. Gamers have accepted the shortcut the gear represents, because the currency and gear are viewed as being "earned." If something like Heirlooms were sold out of game for cash, so long as they weren't the same gear/item as those offered for the in-game currency, I don't see existing gamers having a problem with that.

The differences in gear would delineate the cash-based shortcut from the experience-based shortcut -- that seems to be the source of most of the ill-will over microtransactions, that gear bought with cash shouldn't be the same as that bought with game time. Just among the small groups of WoW casuals and raiders I know, I doubt that any of them care that some newb paid $25 in heirloom gear to get from 1-70 a little faster. So long as Blizz doesn't do the equivalent of selling Tier or other extremely rare, very powerful items, I doubt people would care.

I will voice my one complaint though, I see it potentially (Note, potentially) cutting content out that they could have given players as rewards through things such as achievements, drops, reputations, events, etc. so that the pets and such can be sold instead. Now, if future patches/expansions start introducing fewer and fewer pets and mounts while more go on sale in the store, I'll begin to think Blizzard is up to something.
This goes back to the idea that there is a finite amount of bullshit Blizzard can offer to customers, either through microtransactions or in-game reward systems. I don't get it. No content was harmed in selling access to items already in the game. It's not like Blizz required all staff to drop everything and meet in a conference room to get that damn sparkle pony out the door people because the future of this company rests on it!

Again, I'm not saying that Blizz will most definitely expand microtransactions, my response has mostly been to people who claim, "There is no way Blizz will move beyond pets and bullshit mounts." To me, knowing how Blizz is very good about responding to customer feedback, and how they've changed the structure of the game to do so (allowing transfers, race/faction changes, not to mention changes to in-game content), I doubt that they're just going to write this off as sparkle pony mania.

For Blizz to see a screen cap of sparkle ponies -- to see their customer base act on microtransactions in that way -- is probably a pretty bold statement to them. This is their customer , not ATVI, reaching out and saying, "If you offer us in-game conveniences for cash, we will buy that bullshit. We won't even roll our eyes when you tell us the items are 'limited' in supply." And I know there's many opinions about Blizz out there, but even under ATVI I think Blizz is very good about remaining open with their customer and responding to feedback.

In my opinion, it could be a cool thing to see implemented in the game. Given Blizz's creativity, their use of microtransactions could be extremely innovative for MMOs.

[Salamando3000]

Hyperbole much? I don't follow that at all. Even the slowest of slow bastards don't take more than 3 or 4 months to hit the cap. You could make an argument in the opposite direction, that for some gamers, the tedium of 1-70 forces them to quit because they aren't able to participate with capped or near-cap friends. This in turn leads to potential lifers quitting the game too early!!!

Like I said, Cataclysm is completely redoing the old world. Much of the tedium that stemmed from crappy quests will be removed. That alone will do more to retain non-capped people than allowing purchasable gear would. New class combos and new races will lead to more people rerolling, which will in turn lead to more people levelling up. That'll solve the other problem people levelling up face - there's next to no one doing it right now.

If something like Heirlooms were sold out of game for cash, so long as they weren't the same gear/item as those offered for the in-game currency, I don't see existing gamers having a problem with that. If the Heirlooms offered people that get them some kind of edge (as they almost must by definition), then of course people will have a problem with them. Everything in WoW is a competition between players, in at least some way. Someone should not be given an advantage over others because they spent $5. At least, if they start implemented microtransactions that did, their name would be soured in my eyes.

The thing with all their current microtransaction things (pets/mounts/race changes/faction changes) is that someone is only motivated to get one if they want it. A person that doesn't get one isn't inferior to one that does. Whereas with even heirloom gear, a person becomes motivated to get that so that they can compete with someone that does have it (or, if their friends have it, so that they can continue to run with them without being left behind).

[Hydro2Oxide]

If something like Heirlooms were sold out of game for cash, so long as they weren't the same gear/item as those offered for the in-game currency, I don't see existing gamers having a problem with that.

Uh, I'd have a pretty big problem with that. Heirlooms provide a huge advantage up until around the cap.

[LordKefka06]

Fly-by view of what ORG & SW should look like in CC.

http://kotaku.com/5533126/take-a-fly+by-tour-of-world-of-warcraft-cataclysm

[Hydro2Oxide]

Fly-by view of what ORG & SW should look like in CC.

http://kotaku.com/5533126/take-a-fly+by-tour-of-world-of-warcraft-cataclysm

Hm, I expected more I guess. Would've been nice to have a designer be talking about design decisions they made though, but I guess that'll do. Also, what's at 1:17 for SW?

[DukeEdwardI]

Fly-by view of what ORG & SW should look like in CC.

http://kotaku.com/5533126/take-a-fly+by-tour-of-world-of-warcraft-cataclysm

I'm with Hydro. Seemed like not much changed except for the appearance of some buildings. When they first announced Cataclysm, they made it seem like the whole world would drastically change with Deathwing's escape, but so far Durotar seems like it was in a safe zone or something. Which is strange since right next door the Barrens are supposed to become 2 separate zones with a volcano/river of lava separating them (IIRC).

[LordKefka06]

They are still working on them, that is just what they have so far.

[Salamando3000]

So far, I've been getting most of my leaked info from MMO-Champion. They have a lot of screenshots of the various zones up, including world maps that show how the Cataclysm is affecting them.

Someone mentioned Durotar as being relatively unchanged, which is mostly true, but Echo Islands are now a Troll city and the Western coast is now a giant watershed. Some zones are significantly changed (Thousand Needles is now flooded) while some are barely changed at all (Feralas). The Plaguelands, now that Arthas is dead, are starting to show signs of life.

Really though, as long as there are no longer quests that send me half the way around the world, just to have a followup send me half the way around again, i'll be happy.

[DukeEdwardI]

So far, I've been getting most of my leaked info from MMO-Champion. They have a lot of screenshots of the various zones up, including world maps that show how the Cataclysm is affecting them.

Someone mentioned Durotar as being relatively unchanged, which is mostly true, but Echo Islands are now a Troll city and the Western coast is now a giant watershed. Some zones are significantly changed (Thousand Needles is now flooded) while some are barely changed at all (Feralas). The Plaguelands, now that Arthas is dead, are starting to show signs of life.

Really though, as long as there are no longer quests that send me half the way around the world, just to have a followup send me half the way around again, i'll be happy.

Ah good. I was hoping for some drastic changes like that. Thousand Needles flooded? Sounds awesome! You couldn't by chance give us a link?

[Salamando3000]

Should probably preface this link with a "there may be spoilers" warning, in particular the models at the bottom of the page. http://www.mmo-champion.com/

[lakesideflight]

I'm looking for someone to do RaF with, looking to level 2-3 characters as quickly as possible. I have keys, and am in EST (U.S), PM me if you want to get some quick level 60s!! :)

[lilboo]

I'm trying to get that 2 seated mount. If you are interested in playing WoW.. PM me.. I'll send you the link to the trial.. if you like it.. I'll pay for your WoW CD key :D

(just play for like 2 months, ok?) LOL

[xistence]

I'm looking for someone to do RaF with, looking to level 2-3 characters as quickly as possible. I have keys, and am in EST (U.S), PM me if you want to get some quick level 60s!! :)

I'm trying to get that 2 seated mount. If you are interested in playing WoW.. PM me.. I'll send you the link to the trial.. if you like it.. I'll pay for your WoW CD key :D

(just play for like 2 months, ok?) LOL

Either of you can get in touch with me or I can send ya'll a PM. I don't mind being the RAF "bitch" since I want to level a few Alts anyway (I just don't want to do the 1-60 grind again).

I already have an 80 Warrior knocking on the door of H LK25, but I need a refresh ASAP. Tired of pushing the same 3 buttons over and over.

[Salamando3000]

I'm waiting for Cataclysm to drop before I abuse the RAF. Got a spare WoW code from Circuit City clearance. Plan on dualboxing a rogue and pally. Not the best combo, but they're the only classes I don't have high levels of.

[Fjordson]

Should probably preface this link with a "there may be spoilers" warning, in particular the models at the bottom of the page. http://www.mmo-champion.com/
Those screens look awesome. I quit a few weeks after Lich King came out but Cataclysm looks like the exact shake-up to the game world that could drag me back into it.

[georox]

Either of you can get in touch with me or I can send ya'll a PM. I don't mind being the RAF "bitch" since I want to level a few Alts anyway (I just don't want to do the 1-60 grind again).

I already have an 80 Warrior knocking on the door of H LK25, but I need a refresh ASAP. Tired of pushing the same 3 buttons over and over.

I'll be honest, leveling 1-60 is fucking easy now. You get massive xp+loot doing the random dungeons from the LFG tool, waiting 15 minutes max per run, and then you get rest/upped quest xp/etc. it's just.. nothing.

[LordKefka06]

Goblin Totems:

http://s.nihilum.eu/image/image/wiki/races/goblin/1.jpg


Goblin Vehicles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsGXm4SbhTo&feature=player_embedded

[xistence]

I'll be honest, leveling 1-60 is fucking easy now. You get massive xp+loot doing the random dungeons from the LFG tool, waiting 15 minutes max per run, and then you get rest/upped quest xp/etc. it's just.. nothing.

I'll be honest too...I'm just really lazy and sick of the leveling grind :D

[Magus8472]

I'll be honest too...I'm just really lazy and sick of the leveling grind :D

Then WoW is the perfect MMO for you. :)

[georox]

FYI to anyone interested in WoW, right now Target and Best Buy have a great deal, buy the original version for $19.99, get The Burning Crusade expansion free ($29.99 value)

[Demolition Man]

Don't forget you eventually will need that Wrath Of The Lich King expansion too. ;)

[Hydro2Oxide]

Ugg I'm sitting on $30 BB gift card waiting for them to drop lich king so I can start again, maybe I should just eat the $10 (Plus the 15 to start my subscrip again... ugh)

[DukeEdwardI]

Pretty good deal for people who haven't played before. That's a lot of content for $20.

EDIT: So with all this info about Cataclysm, I figured I should try to get my account back. It was banned about 2 months ago due to "Exploitative Activity: Abuse of the Economy." I had to do a double take when I saw the e-mail since I hadn't logged into my account since Christmas time last year. And that was only for a couple of hours. After that I let the 7 free days (for linking my account with battle.net) run out. So I'm pretty sure somebody hacked my account and used it for gold farming or duping or something. I requested that they check the IP addresses where my account was accessed after Christmas time last year and to unban my account. So fingers crossed...

[Hydro2Oxide]

Pretty good deal for people who haven't played before. That's a lot of content for $20.

EDIT: So with all this info about Cataclysm, I figured I should try to get my account back. It was banned about 2 months ago due to "Exploitative Activity: Abuse of the Economy." I had to do a double take when I saw the e-mail since I hadn't logged into my account since Christmas time last year. And that was only for a couple of hours. After that I let the 7 free days (for linking my account with battle.net) run out. So I'm pretty sure somebody hacked my account and used it for gold farming or duping or something. I requested that they check the IP addresses where my account was accessed after Christmas time last year and to unban my account. So fingers crossed...

This happened to my brother, don't worry you'll get it back.

In other news, I picked up lich king and I'm back on the wagon. Man this game is awesome! I'm on Ravenholdt, Iragor if anyone's on there (Terrible server though)

[DukeEdwardI]

This happened to my brother, don't worry you'll get it back.

In other news, I picked up lich king and I'm back on the wagon. Man this game is awesome! I'm on Ravenholdt, Iragor if anyone's on there (Terrible server though)

Ah, that's good to hear! I haven't heard back yet, so I'm still waiting...

Is that a PvP or PvE server? I'm looking to start on a new server cause I'm tired of those Alliance bitches not leaving me alone. I JUST WANT TO QUEST IN PEACE. Should have started on a PvE server to begin with, but all my friends were a PvP server at the time.

[Hydro2Oxide]

Ah, that's good to hear! I haven't heard back yet, so I'm still waiting...

Is that a PvP or PvE server? I'm looking to start on a new server cause I'm tired of those Alliance bitches not leaving me alone. I JUST WANT TO QUEST IN PEACE. Should have started on a PvE server to begin with, but all my friends were a PvP server at the time.

RPPvP. It's something like 70/30 Horde/Alliance and pretty low populations so we get wrecked all the time.

[Spacepest]

I'm looking to start on a new server cause I'm tired of those Alliance bitches not leaving me alone. I JUST WANT TO QUEST IN PEACE. Should have started on a PvE server to begin with, but all my friends were a PvP server at the time.

This is precisely why all me and my friends with jobs transferred from PVP to PVE servers. Our PVP server was infested with kids and teenagers without jobs but access to mommy and daddy's credit card who would do nothing but gank lowbies all day. Our playtime is limited and nothing is more frustrating than trying to level or quest and not being able to get anything accomplished because players 40 levels higher than you keep killing you over and over again. (And at that level, can you even call it PVP? You can't PVP against another player twice your level who keeps one shotting you).

Oh, and I'd also like to recommend this: buy a authenticator from Blizzard. They're what-$7? and generate an extra code when you log in to prevent people from hacking into your account. You can also download a free Authenticator program from Blizzard for certain cell phones as well. This will prevent most hacking attempts on your account.

[Commy]

I've been playing off and on casually for a while now, with every other month me canceling my sub because I had other things going on. I'm on an RP server(I joined for a friend who eventually quit, I'd probably like a PvE server instead), and I'm a 72 Mage with the Alliance. I just don't like any of the Horde races ;\ Maybe Night Elf.. maybe.

I absolutely loved the BC levels. Quests were smooth, and the flying mount was just a godsend. Most fun I've had in the game. Since 68 and moving onto LK area, things have really felt slow. No more flying until 77, and a lot more xp needed for each next level. Granted I only play a few hours a day but it feels like my pace has slowed drastically.

Is it me or do the pickup dungeon groups waste alot of people's time? I have 4 dungeon quests active for one of the dungeons, meaning a heap of xp and nice gear, so I queue for it while doing other things. But every group I've gotten for this dungeon(Nexus.. I think), people leave ten minutes after joining(seriously, why join then!?), or they do really stupid stuff like a dps pulling mobs without telling anyone while we're recovering mana, etc. It's starting to feel frustrating.

I'm also not sure what I want to do once I reach 80. I've been hesitant to join a guild since my playtime is casual/sporadic, I have no interest in joining a dedicated/serious raid guild. Battlegrounds sounds like fun though, I'll probably try that out. I also read that they're adding flying mounts to Azeroth in Cataclysm? I would love that so much.

[DukeEdwardI]

Woot! Got my account restored and a e-mail to reset my password. It also said that it would waive payment for that month that it was accessed without authorization but I was never charged for a month (IIRC), so that's kinda weird.

Kinda considering not changing the password, until I get an authenticator. They're only $6.50 and it seems like the best way to ensure this doesn't happen again.

Now to see what kind of damage has been done to my characters. Sure hope I didn't lose anything too important.

[Hydro2Oxide]

Woot! Got my account restored and a e-mail to reset my password. It also said that it would waive payment for that month that it was accessed without authorization but I was never charged for a month (IIRC), so that's kinda weird.

Kinda considering not changing the password, until I get an authenticator. They're only $6.50 and it seems like the best way to ensure this doesn't happen again.

Now to see what kind of damage has been done to my characters. Sure hope I didn't lose anything too important.

Glad to hear it, if you have an iPod (touch and phone only I think) you can get a free app.

This is precisely why all me and my friends with jobs transferred from PVP to PVE servers. Our PVP server was infested with kids and teenagers without jobs but access to mommy and daddy's credit card who would do nothing but gank lowbies all day. Our playtime is limited and nothing is more frustrating than trying to level or quest and not being able to get anything accomplished because players 40 levels higher than you keep killing you over and over again. (And at that level, can you even call it PVP? You can't PVP against another player twice your level who keeps one shotting you).

I kind of like it, it adds a little adventure to the usual grind. It's also nice if you have an alt to hop on and mop them up but even then, I like something to break the mold every once in a while.

Also raiding major cities is sweet :3

Hit 73, have had a ton of bad groups in random dungeon finder. Hope to be 80 by this time next week (Thank god school's out, need to find a job though =/ )

[Hydro2Oxide]

Just completed the crazy long Lich King quest chain The one where you attack undercity I have no idea the story behind most of it but that was pretty sweet.

[Hydro2Oxide]

Just hit 75... Can't believe I'm only (Actually less than) halfway. Ugh.

[Droenixjpn]

Is that deal still going on? Or is it over? Definitely thinking of picking WoW up, but want to see if I can get any deals on it before hand.

[Salamando3000]

Frys currently has the WoW battlechest for $20.

http://www.frys.com/product/5019605

Shipping from Frys.com isn't the cheapest if I remember correctly, but you can always try B&M. They also have the WotLK expansion for $20, but it's out of stock online.

http://www.frys.com/product/5730432

Finally, if you haven't yet, I'm sure there are many people around here that wouldn't mind hooking you up with a friend referral code. You don't get much if you don't actually play with them, but there's probably a few that would kick you back something in return.

[georox]

Finally, if you haven't yet, I'm sure there are many people around here that wouldn't mind hooking you up with a friend referral code. You don't get much if you don't actually play with them, but there's probably a few that would kick you back something in return.

Yep. Some of us actually do have the time to play with a person too! (Except Mon/Tues/Thurs afternoons)

[Hydro2Oxide]

Finally, if you haven't yet, I'm sure there are many people around here that wouldn't mind hooking you up with a friend referral code. You don't get much if you don't actually play with them, but there's probably a few that would kick you back something in return.

This is a great option, it takes out a LOT of the grind for the first few levels. I'd be up to doing it if anyone were interested, I've been curious as to how Shamans play.

In other news, LEVEL 80 SUCKAS!

http://i.imgur.com/VSN10.png

What am I going to do now, anyone know the best way to make quick cash? Dailies or instances. Also what's the best way to improve your gear? I can't run any big raids until I get some respectable gear.

[dothog]

What am I going to do now, anyone know the best way to make quick cash? Dailies or instances. Also what's the best way to improve your gear? I can't run any big raids until I get some respectable gear.
It's been over a year since I was in, but I doubt it's changed much outside of the addition of the new Dungeon Finder.

You'll just run a lot of heroics (instances) through the new LFG (Dungeon Finder). That will get you geared up and fill out your coffers a bit. Level up cooking and fishing, those dailies will also get you some cash and they take next to no time to run. These two are things you ought to do IMO, for fun (heroics) or easy cash (fish/cook dailies).

If you've got more playtime per day, there's a ton of level 80 dailies throughout Icecrown and a few connected regions that will get you lots of easy cash -- and rep, if you care about rep. I used to have a circuit I ran that got me ~250g in an hour and a half through IC dailies. That circuit included the easy Argent Tournament dailies.

Keep the cash and mats for later -- there's no need to buy anything outside of gems/enchants, let the gear come to you as it drops or opens up through badges.

If I were in now, based on what friends have told me, I'd only be running heroics and completing the fishing/cooking dailies. Apparently the Dungeon Finder lets you run a lot of heroics in very little time. That's not to say the other dailies aren't enjoyable, they just got pretty boring for me after a couple weeks, whereas pugging will always pay off in the sense that it will help you with class mechanics, etc.

[helmet]

Anyone on Blackrock or Emerald Dream? My guild is pretty inactive, so I'm looking for something new.

[LordKefka06]

Plan on making a big collaboration thread of all the CAG WOW players.

[LordKefka06]

WOW: CC Preview (http://g4tv.com/games/pc/62730/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm/articles/71000/E3-2010-World-of-Warcraft-Cataclysm-Hands-On-Preview/).

Sometime near BlizzCon, I will create the WOW: CC general thread..... That is if I do not procrastinate it too much.

[Hydro2Oxide]

Well, I hate to say it but I let my subscrip expire. In the month I payed for I pretty much experienced everything endgame has to offer. Didn't make it to the lich king in 10 or 25, I couldn't even get past Putricide but end game raiding doesn't really have much of a point. You get better gear to fight bigger bosses who drop better gear. Repeat.

I still had fun though, I'll hop back on for cata but until then I'm hanging up my bow.

[LordKefka06]

Have fun: http://www.worldofraids.com/topic/17008-cataclysm-press-event-raids-guild-system-path-of-the-titans-more/?

[Fuzi0n]

Anyone excited for Ruby Sanctum? ICC is getting a little stale and all we have left is Lich King on Heroic. Not much to do in game but raid 2-3 nights out of the week, Cataclysm can't come soon enough. :(

[LordKefka06]

Anyone excited for Ruby Sanctum? ICC is getting a little stale and all we have left is Lich King on Heroic. Not much to do in game but raid 2-3 nights out of the week, Cataclysm can't come soon enough. :(Yeah. I was falling into the same situation, till I started Retro-Raiding.

I am pretty much my server's pre-WOTLK raid leader. Brings back all the memories, and can work on getting my gear collection back.

Still have yet to see what the level 80 PVP side of WOW has to offer. Probly no where near Vanilla.

[redshadow]

Yeah. Wow end-game raiding sure as hell ain't what it used to be. I kinda figured it would go south when they took Naxxramas and turned it into Karazhan. The fights in there aren't even close to what they used to be pre-BC.


I had more fun doing 40 man raids in MC, BWL, and AQ40 than I ever did doing the 25/10 man raids. 8 piece sets ftw. I remember when I completed Netherwind on my mage.

[Salamando3000]

Lots of people always claim pre-BC raiding to be "the golden age" of WoW raiding, but there's a lot of nostalgia with that opinion. A lot of pre-bc Raiding just sucked.

For starters, there really wasn't a thing such as raiding as an "off-spec". If you wanted to raid as a Shadow Priest, for example, the priest set pieces became worthless (as they had yet to combine +healing and +spell power into one stat). It resulted in a vastly reduced gear pool.

Then there were the grinds for +resistance gear. And the grinds for assorted Pot mats. And the over-reliance on Fear as a boss mechanic (and Dwarf Priests being the only priests with Fear Ward).

Not to say modern raiding is perfect, but I'd much rather raid WotLK raids than Vanilla-raids any day.

[LordKefka06]

Really looking forward to the CC change where 10 & 25 will share the same loot table.

Can finally raid with my friends to advance to the end-game gear, not be forced to do 25's.

[Salamando3000]

I'll just be happy I only have to run a raid once a week. That's gotta be contributing to some of the burnout of current content - people are running each raid twice to gear up faster.

[Hydro2Oxide]

Well the thing I hate most about raiding now is the gear is worthless in PvP and arena thanks to resilience. It makes raiding pretty much worthless in the end considering you're only getting gear so you can get more gear.

[Magus8472]

Lots of people always claim pre-BC raiding to be "the golden age" of WoW raiding, but there's a lot of nostalgia with that opinion. A lot of pre-bc Raiding just sucked.

For starters, there really wasn't a thing such as raiding as an "off-spec". If you wanted to raid as a Shadow Priest, for example, the priest set pieces became worthless (as they had yet to combine +healing and +spell power into one stat). It resulted in a vastly reduced gear pool.

Then there were the grinds for +resistance gear. And the grinds for assorted Pot mats. And the over-reliance on Fear as a boss mechanic (and Dwarf Priests being the only priests with Fear Ward).

All these things are true, but the sheer difficulty of pre-BC raiding is what made it feel like such an accomplishment in the first place. And ironically enough, I can't see how the myriad of "conveniences" they've introduced since have done anything but turn the game into an even more repetitive loot grind.

[Hydro2Oxide]

All these things are true, but the sheer difficulty of pre-BC raiding is what made it feel like such an accomplishment in the first place. And ironically enough, I can't see how the myriad of "conveniences" they've introduced since have done anything but turn the game into an even more repetitive loot grind.

I think only 1X guilds have beaten heroic lich, I'd say that's difficult enough.

[Magus8472]

I think only 1X guilds have beaten heroic lich, I'd say that's difficult enough.

I'd say that's a bit of an underestimation (http://wow.guildprogress.com/Icecrown_25), but it's really beside the point. Everyone and their mother has beaten the other three versions of him. Dilutes the accomplishment a bit, don't ya think?

But hey, don't get me wrong. From an accessibility perspective, the changes Blizzard made to raiding were brilliant and a long time coming in MMO-land. The fact that they put off hardcore idiots like myself probably doesn't matter too much, since I'm sure we were looking to get something markedly different out of MMOs than were most people.

[Hydro2Oxide]

I'd say that's a bit of an underestimation (http://wow.guildprogress.com/Icecrown_25), but it's really beside the point. Everyone and their mother has beaten the other three versions of him. Dilutes the accomplishment a bit, don't ya think?

But hey, don't get me wrong. From an accessibility perspective, the changes Blizzard made to raiding were brilliant and a long time coming in MMO-land. The fact that they put off hardcore idiots like myself probably doesn't matter too much, since I'm sure we were looking to get something markedly different out of MMOs than were most people.

Whoops, missed an X there :lol:

Even so, I'd say cool your jets till Ruby comes, I'm sure it'll be tougher.

[Jodou]

Well the thing I hate most about raiding now is the gear is worthless in PvP and arena thanks to resilience. It makes raiding pretty much worthless in the end considering you're only getting gear so you can get more gear.
I don't know which was worse: PvE to PvP or PvP to PvP. I wish WoW would drop the artificial skill from gear like it was during year one when nobody had good gear. I just don't understand the appeal of the hamster wheel anymore, but 10 million plus are still suckered by it.

[styl3s]

Anyone know of a good server i could transfer to? i recently resubbed my account and im transferring off my server (80 blood elf warlock and 62 undead rogue) im just looking for a well populated server with some nice friendly guilds who do heroics, raiding etc. that are willing to accept someone who isn't godly at the game, its been like 8 months since i played im rusty as hell i mainly just wanna join a friendly guild who does like to progress but also helps out members not one of those guilds where if you aren't geared you are SOL and they ignore you, i like to have fun with the game but also like to progress and take the game seriously when needed to

my dick of a friend 8 months back was like hey xfer over here! so i did and he quit a week later and out of anger i canceled my account :lol: so im stuck on spirestone with nothing to do

[Fuzi0n]

All these things are true, but the sheer difficulty of pre-BC raiding is what made it feel like such an accomplishment in the first place. And ironically enough, I can't see how the myriad of "conveniences" they've introduced since have done anything but turn the game into an even more repetitive loot grind.

I feel like this is a common misconception about pre-BC raiding. Yeah it might have been harder at times but it wasn't due to the tuning or mechanics of the bosses. I feel it may seem harder due to the fact you need 39 other people to fill out a raid half of which are most likely uninformed/geared/skilled for the encounter. You also have to remember there was no such thing as server transfers to pick up better raiders or even go to a server with better guilds. The gearing up process was also painfully slow considering the amount of people there were in a raid to the amount of loot that would drop each week. All these I feel contributed to the what made raiding so difficult, not to mention you had to play a hell of a lot more to gear up and farm consumables for raids much like BC.

We all no now how "easy" it is to gear up a character now which was not at all possible in vanilla. I to myself loved raiding back in vanilla and am not trying to say it didn't feel like an accomplishment, but that was when the game was new, I feel players now (at least at the endgame level) are much much better at the game than they were back then.

Raiding now still has it epic moments and still has plenty of difficulty for most guilds around the world. Remember you can still click off that buff in ICC and go at Heroic LK if you want a challenge, hell you can go try yogg+0 in your ICC gear and still wipe all night. There are still plenty of challenges in raiding.

Back on topic I like that they are combining the lockout of both 10 and 25 man. As for combining loot tables im not so thrilled about, but thats just me and it isn't a huge deal as people are making it out to be. I understand people have different tastes/schedules to abide to. I just hope they can truly match the difficulty of both 10 and 25 as they promised.

One thing I'd like to see again is the Ulduar/Sarth hardmode encounters, not just a setting you turn on and off like ICC.

[LordKefka06]

One of my main requests for Blizzard is that they make more World Events, like 1 every 3 months. The Gates of Ahn'Qiraj was the highlight of WOW for me. The whole server came together.

With 3.3.7 & the Gnome/Troll World Event coming up, it could prove itself worthy. But my hopes are not set high...


Side-Note: Fuck Paladins.

[styl3s]

One of my main requests for Blizzard is that they make more World Events, like 1 every 3 months. The Gates of Ahn'Qiraj was the highlight of WOW for me. The whole server came together.

With 3.3.7 & the Gnome/Troll World Event coming up, it could prove itself worthy. But my hopes are not set high...


Side-Note: Fuck Paladins.
Not a fan of the bubble hearth?

[Magus8472]

I feel like this is a common misconception about pre-BC raiding. Yeah it might have been harder at times but it wasn't due to the tuning or mechanics of the bosses. I feel it may seem harder due to the fact you need 39 other people to fill out a raid half of which are most likely uninformed/geared/skilled for the encounter. You also have to remember there was no such thing as server transfers to pick up better raiders or even go to a server with better guilds. The gearing up process was also painfully slow considering the amount of people there were in a raid to the amount of loot that would drop each week. All these I feel contributed to the what made raiding so difficult, not to mention you had to play a hell of a lot more to gear up and farm consumables for raids much like BC.

That's the kind of difficulty I'm referring to. If anything "modern" encounters are more intricate than the older ones, at least in some respects (would have to be given how much more powerful and skilled players generally are now).

The fact that the gearing up process was so extensive (and often painstaking) made it an actual accomplishment. Now it's a perfunctory task at best, which just contributes to the more lootwhore-y overall atmosphere the game has now. Hell, the fact that you're speaking about loot and scoot/poaching from other guilds via server transfers as though they were good things goes a long way to evidence how much more soulless WoW has become. To put it bluntly, I liked it better when you couldn't PUG a raid and noone knew what the fuck gearscore was.

But like I said, the vast majority of sane people don't want the kind of game I'm lauding, so it makes perfect sense that it's changed in the ways it has. Just makes me not want to play it (which is probably a good thing).

[Fuzi0n]

I don't see a lot of the gearscore PUG issues that a lot of players have been facing mainly because I don't PUG and have always had the latest raid gear thanks to raiding with my guild. So it kind of hard for me to relate to the people who have been encountering that.

As for more world events like LordKefka06 had mentioned I totally agree. One thing I would love to see them bring back are world bosses that anyone on the server can go try to kill. Some of my best memories in wow are fighting for those bosses with other guilds and having one side coming out victorious.

[wynams]

thanks PMs. SoR is covered.

Cheers!

[georox]

Well, got my Time-Lost Protodrake today.. need that damn referral rocket still.

[T3ntman]

Lucky SOB with that TLPD. I guess I'll just use my X-53 til I get mine :) Gtats though.

[LordKefka06]

Fucking ashes will never drop....

[ninju D]

Got my beta invite for Cataclysm last night. Been patching for damn near 12 hours now. :(

[georox]

I'd kill someone for that referral rocket right about now... *starts looking at other posters*

[Fuzi0n]

I could use the TLPD right about now, I'm at 94 mounts trying to get 100. Next week we should be getting the 25man ICC bone dragon which would make it 95. I could get 5 more from argent tourny but its just so boring to do the dailies, not to mention a slow process to get 100 seals for each mount

[slofton]

Is there a CAG guild in the game or does everyone play on different servers?

[georox]

I could use the TLPD right about now, I'm at 94 mounts trying to get 100. Next week we should be getting the 25man ICC bone dragon which would make it 95. I could get 5 more from argent tourny but its just so boring to do the dailies, not to mention a slow process to get 100 seals for each mount

I'm over 100 mounts... and that is with *no* raiding mounts. I think I'm sitting around 106 on my main...

[Fuzi0n]

I'm over 100 mounts... and that is with *no* raiding mounts. I think I'm sitting around 106 on my main...

Nice, if I was really dedicated I could prob get there too. Do you have the 2 Talbuk PvP mounts from Halaa? If so did you get them before WotLK? It seems to be impossible to get them now since there isn't any PvP going on anymore.

I also found out I didn't have one of the PvP mounts (horse) so there is another one I can add easily. I have just about all the ones you can buy except for the Ice Mammoth from sons of Hodir. I can justify the 8k for an achievement when I have the Travelers Mammoth already.

[georox]

Nice, if I was really dedicated I could prob get there too. Do you have the 2 Talbuk PvP mounts from Halaa? If so did you get them before WotLK? It seems to be impossible to get them now since there isn't any PvP going on anymore.

I also found out I didn't have one of the PvP mounts (horse) so there is another one I can add easily. I have just about all the ones you can buy except for the Ice Mammoth from sons of Hodir. I can justify the 8k for an achievement when I have the Travelers Mammoth already.

Actually, I didn't get those two on the character with the mounts... my old main (hunter) has both, but my Shaman has neither. I keep considering drafting some people to stand around and die so I can farm tokens.. :D

[Royal_Tenenbaum]

@georox I just went and bought my friend vanilla wow and a two month card. I got the rocket and a month back. So if your desperate, you can always go that route.

[georox]

I've considered doing that but just setting it up for myself. The people I know that are interested in WoW I've given trials to... after seeing them on the trial, not people I would want constantly on bothering me for help.

[Thorgouge]

If anyone is thinking about reactivating or making a new account for the love of god pm me so we can set up some scroll of resurrection or recruit-a-friend goodness. I can possibly give some incentives for helping me with the free game time.

[Fjordson]

http://www.giantbomb.com/rorcraft-wow-cataclysm-beta-part-01/17-2902/

GB playing the beta. Man, this looks so good. Raiding exhausted me on this game pretty badly in the middle of my guild's ICC clearing, so I've been out for a few months, but I don't think I'll be able to resist re-subbing for Cataclysm.

[Fuzi0n]

http://www.giantbomb.com/rorcraft-wow-cataclysm-beta-part-01/17-2902/

GB playing the beta. Man, this looks so good. Raiding exhausted me on this game pretty badly in the middle of my guild's ICC clearing, so I've been out for a few months, but I don't think I'll be able to resist re-subbing for Cataclysm.

Clearing ICC has been becoming a drag since it is basically on farm. Every so often I'll take a week break from the game just to keep it from being so mundane. Though I believe we will begin to finally work on Lich King heroic mode in 25 man and I'm only 1 achievement from getting my 25 man bone-dragon mount since we failed twice on Portal Jockey. Also RS heroic is a bit of a challenge for our raid which is nice compared to rolling through ICC heroic minus LK.

As for the expansion I really wish I could get into the beta, one of my guild mates got in and is really enjoying it. It would definitely help make up my mind whether or not I will play it.

[Brownjohn]

Just started playing again last night after being away from the game since August last year. I had to setup addons again, which took up about two hours. I still don't have my action bars setup perfectly, and I haven't even started on unit frames.

[Khondor]

I just started playing this over the weekend. Thats right, Farm Fresh Noob here.
If anyone else
is just starting out and needs somebody to play with, lets get together.
Send me a PM

[georox]

I just started playing this over the weekend. Thats right, Farm Fresh Noob here.
If anyone else
is just starting out and needs somebody to play with, lets get together.
Send me a PM

:/ You so didn't get an invite from me, so you won't be getting help from me. <shun>

[Khondor]

:/ You so didn't get an invite from me, so you won't be getting help from me. <shun>

I expect no less from a typical WoW player

[Troggicus]

If any one from the EU wants to pm me a resurrection scroll I'd greatly appreciate it, been thinking about getting back into the game for a while and I've finally given in. Damn you Cataclysm!

[georox]

I expect no less from a typical WoW player

In my defense, I've probably only been logged in to the game for a total of four hours over the last three months.

[Sir_Fragalot]

I bought a 60 day card today and well I am now going back to this game. I could not resist because this is the best MMO I ever played.

Anyway the install for this game is fucking brutal if you are doing it fresh. 10 disc install (I don't know if newer versions of WoW use DVD's but my original and BC both used CD's). Now I am just starting to download patch 3.01-3.20 and on a 125 kb/sec max speed download, I am going to be here awhile :lol:

Can't wait to go back though, whenever it does finish.

[AK85]

Anyway the install for this game is fucking brutal if you are doing it fresh. 10 disc install (I don't know if newer versions of WoW use DVD's but my original and BC both used CD's). Now I am just starting to download patch 3.01-3.20 and on a 125 kb/sec max speed download, I am going to be here awhile :lol:

I bought the Battle Chest a few weeks ago and they both came on DVDs, but I still had a ton of patches to download when I finally got through the install.

[hiccupleftovers]

I bought the Battle Chest a few weeks ago and they both came on DVDs, but I still had a ton of patches to download when I finally got through the install.

My WoW had DVDs, but it took forever to install and the I can't remember how big the patches were, but it was something like several GBs. I hadn't played in a bit, donated my account to some family, so I started it up again and it took awhile to DL patches.

By the way, any CAGs play on Bronzebeard?

[JasonTerminator]

If you have the Wrath DVD, it's a full WoW install up to Wrath. No need for the other discs, so you just need to get the post-Wrath patches to play.

[Gamehead]

I got a cataclysm beta invite and my account has been inactive for a long time. I used a free trial about a month ago, but other then that I haven't played in 1 year+. My account in inactive, but I can still log into the beta.

Hmm. Is blizz trying to draw me back in?

[eelpout01]

[QUOTE=Sir_Fragalot;7553083]
Anyway the install for this game is fucking brutal if you are doing it fresh. 10 disc install (I don't know if newer versions of WoW use DVD's but my original and BC both used CD's). Now I am just starting to download patch 3.01-3.20 and on a 125 kb/sec max speed download, I am going to be here awhile :lol:
QUOTE]

Another total greenhorn here and I just installed the "first" edition I guess you might call it, between the CD and patch downloading it was an over 15 hour install. But made it thru just in time for last weeks Maintence down time. LOL but we good now I guess

[tcrash247]

I got a cataclysm beta invite and my account has been inactive for a long time. I used a free trial about a month ago, but other then that I haven't played in 1 year+. My account in inactive, but I can still log into the beta.

Hmm. Is blizz trying to draw me back in?

I hate you.

[Salamando3000]

I'm actually not minding not getting into the Cata beta. Got into the WotLK beta, and I never got into it all that much. I couldn't get past putting so much time into characters that weren't balanced properly yet and would go *poof* once the beta was over. It's not like I won't be going through the content anyway when it actually releases.

[VioletArrows]

My WoW had DVDs, but it took forever to install and the I can't remember how big the patches were, but it was something like several GBs. I hadn't played in a bit, donated my account to some family, so I started it up again and it took awhile to DL patches.

By the way, any CAGs play on Bronzebeard?

I used to, but I quit back in January. Might go back for Cataclysm, though if I do, I'm more likely to just reroll somewhere else. Poor boyfriend is trying to come up with new ways to keep from losing me again.

[tcrash247]

World of Warcraft(R): Cataclysm(TM) in Stores Starting December 7

IRVINE, Calif., Oct 04, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. today announced that World of Warcraft(R): Cataclysm(TM), the highly anticipated third expansion for the world's most popular subscription-based massively multiplayer online role-playing game*, will be released starting on December 7, 2010. The expansion will be available on DVD-ROM for Windows(R) XP/Windows Vista(R)/Windows(R) 7 and Macintosh(R) at a suggested retail price of $39.99 and will also be offered as a digital download from the Blizzard Store. A special Collector's Edition packed with bonus items will be available exclusively in retail stores for a suggested retail price of $79.99.

"Cataclysm includes the best content we've ever created for World of Warcraft. It's not just an expansion, but a re-creation of much of the original Azeroth, complete with epic new high-level adventures for current players and a redesigned leveling experience for those just starting out," said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. "With the help of our beta testers, we're putting on the final polish, and we look forward to welcoming gamers around the world to enjoy it in just a couple of months."

The first two World of Warcraft expansions, The Burning Crusade(R) and Wrath of the Lich King(R), each shattered PC game sales records upon their release.* In Cataclysm, the face of Azeroth will be forever altered by the return of the corrupted Dragon Aspect Deathwing. Players will explore once-familiar areas of the world that have now been reshaped by the devastation and filled with new adventures. In an effort to survive the planet-shattering cataclysm, two new playable races — worgen and goblins — will join the struggle between the Alliance and the Horde. As players journey to the new level cap of 85, they'll discover newly revealed locations, acquire new levels of power, and come face to face with Deathwing in a battle to determine the fate of the world.

The beta test for World of Warcraft: Cataclysm is currently underway. Visit the official Battle.net(R) website at http://www.battle.net to set up a Battle.net account and sign up for a chance to participate. To learn more about World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, visit http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/cataclysm.

Looks like I'm taking off work on the 7th.

[Salamando3000]

Looks like I'm taking off work on the 7th the month of December.

Fixed that for me. Well, not really, but due to how work handles holidaysl, I can usually use 3 days of PTO and get the entire last two weeks off.

[brennok]

I was hoping somewhat that Cataclysm would bring me back, but after playing beta some of the things I hoped they would address more they didn't. I didn't get very high in crafting to see all the changes, but leveling crafting still feels like a chore that isn't rewarding or profitable.

The revamped areas don't feel that different to me and it has been a long time since I played. While the quests feel slightly different, it feels more cosmetic like only the name of the mob changed and the graphic.

I don't know I may throw it on my xmas list if there is a decent deal on it since I don't own LK to give it a try once it goes live. I just don't find myself itching to play the beta even.

[Gamehead]

I was hoping somewhat that Cataclysm would bring me back, but after playing beta some of the things I hoped they would address more they didn't. I didn't get very high in crafting to see all the changes, but leveling crafting still feels like a chore that isn't rewarding or profitable.

The revamped areas don't feel that different to me and it has been a long time since I played. While the quests feel slightly different, it feels more cosmetic like only the name of the mob changed and the graphic.

I don't know I may throw it on my xmas list if there is a decent deal on it since I don't own LK to give it a try once it goes live. I just don't find myself itching to play the beta even.

Even though I have only played a little of the beta, I feel like when cataclysm comes back I am going to be playing it full-time. I like how things have been streamlined, and I like leveling. Grinding doesn't bother me much in wow because you level so quickly.

I can't wait to level a Worgen. It is all the same we have played before, but I still like it. I've only got 2 months to finish all my console games, before I never will.

[brennok]

I wish I felt that way, but it just feels more of the same to me. It just reminds me of why I quit playing rather than when I actually enjoyed playing. Maybe if I can hook up with old friends who used to play I will be ok.

[Fjordson]

Really sucks that Amazon is already sold out of the CE. I was ready to pre-order it last week :-(

[JasonTerminator]

Really sucks that Amazon is already sold out of the CE. I was ready to pre-order it last week :-(

Why didn't you? They wouldn't have charged you until it shipped, in December.

Not that it helps you now, but I'm curious.

[gargus]

That big ass 4.7gb patch I pre downloaded a couple weeks ago is installing today and usual TUE downtime has been extended a little. I wonder what its installing. I mean surely that entire 4.7gb isnt going live already, the game isnt out for like 7 more weeks.

Really sucks that Amazon is already sold out of the CE. I was ready to pre-order it last week :-(

I found a couple places online that are taking pre orders for it still. Ill send you some links in a PM incase you dont see this.

[Demolition Man]

Along with 4.7 gig update there is also the 1.4 gig update on top of that. Jesus fucking Christ this better be good Blizzard.

Here's the patch notes for what we're getting today. (http://www.wowwiki.com/Patch_4.0.1)

[Spacepest]

Holy shit.

My warlock's fondest dream has come true with this patch--NO MORE SOULSHARDS. I now have extra bag space. And I really like the improvements to her Felguard--he now has a spinning attack plus can throw his ax to stun enemies. I started LMAO when he knocked an enemy on its ass at a distance with his new skill and said, "I can't wait to watch you die."

My hunter is very happy too with all her new pet stable slots. I must have spent a couple of hours running around taming new pets for her.

And I have 8 quests left to finish my Loremaster title. Good news--its only 8 quests. Bad news--its all phased group quests in Icecrown. I'm really beginning to hate Icecrown.

[Demolition Man]

Holy shit indeed.... this update has more holes in it than swiss cheese. Game crashes, getting thrown out of battlegrounds for no reason, attacks not working, pets disappearing for no reason, graphic glitches, items missing, sound lagging, lagging connection, getting dismounted from flying mount, going from full health to dead in Dalaran, and on and on.

In other words..... we are now playing a public alpha test. And paying $15 a month for that privilege. Thanks Blizzard.

[Spacepest]

Luckiest night ever! My hunter got the Headless Horseman's mount AND the Sinister Squashling pet.

[tcrash247]

That stuff drops like candy now. Out of my 5 80s, 4 have the mount, squashling and helm. GG blizzard for upping drop rates to the heavens? One character I got all 3 in one loot filled pumpkin along with that sword. Not to diminish your achievement, I was psyched when I got my first one, but then I got it 3 more times in 2 days lol. I even got one on my friends character since he was out of town.

[AK85]

Got the Squashling on my first attempt (just got to level 78), so I hope I can get the mount before the event is over

[360CoreGaMer]

I'm taking a short break for now, but will be back to Laughing skull (US) soon.

50+/- Gnome Warlock
80 Human DK

and a few misc. alts leveling up very slowly.

[Jodou]

I'm taking a short break for now, but will be back to Laughing skull (US) soon.
My old stomping ground since day one. Any of the original guilds still around? I might use up a trial to go make fun of them for still playing.

[Spacepest]

The pre-Cataclysm events have begun!

What's this I spy in Stormwind?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/GoodyGumdrop/WoW/twilightcult1.jpg


What's going on here? Looks mighty suspicious:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/GoodyGumdrop/WoW/twilightcult2.jpg


I've been recruited!

Join the Twilight Doomsday Cult, and for a limited time, get this cool looking robe and neat sign!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/GoodyGumdrop/WoW/twilightcult3.jpg

[Lice]

I really am disappointed with the hunter atm. Major nerf. Its like starting all over again at level 80 which is a treat.

[Fjordson]

I'm taking a short break for now, but will be back to Laughing skull (US) soon.

50+/- Gnome Warlock
80 Human DK

and a few misc. alts leveling up very slowly.
My old stomping ground since day one. Any of the original guilds still around? I might use up a trial to go make fun of them for still playing.
Holy shit, haha. For the first couple years of the game I was on Laughing Skull as well (Alliance). I know Deus Vox is still an incredibly intense guild. Hopefully Pals 4 Life is still going as well.

The only Horde guilds I remember are End Game and Unfadable. Not sure if either is still active.

[Jodou]

Holy shit, haha. For the first couple years of the game I was on Laughing Skull as well (Alliance). I know Deus Vox is still an incredibly intense guild. Hopefully Pals 4 Life is still going as well.

The only Horde guilds I remember are End Game and Unfadable. Not sure if either is still active.
If P4L is still around, it's none of the original members. End Game for sure is gone since the leadership broke up long ago. Unfadable would be in the same boat as P4L. DV is, well, a PvE guild on a PvP server. The few times I did see them out in BGs they were fucking awful. That was years ago, so maybe they actually recruited some talent in that time.

You'd probably remember me, as I'm an officer with The Regulators. Our legacy remains as I hear people still say TR#1 in general chat. . .

[huongnd]

you can post ads in some pages are smaller ebay, I think so




Flip Me Out (http://game3a.com/en/2197eK/flash-game/flip-me-out.html)

[Gden]

I'm curious, any of us besides myself from twisting nether? I'd list my high level characters, but we don't have all day. Oh, also I'm on alliance.

[Superstar]

I'm curious, any of us besides myself from twisting nether? I'd list my high level characters, but we don't have all day. Oh, also I'm on alliance.

My realm is Twisting Nether but I am horde. I'd list all my high characters but you've probably seen me slapping you around anyways. ;)

[Fjordson]

If P4L is still around, it's none of the original members. End Game for sure is gone since the leadership broke up long ago. Unfadable would be in the same boat as P4L. DV is, well, a PvE guild on a PvP server. The few times I did see them out in BGs they were fucking awful. That was years ago, so maybe they actually recruited some talent in that time.
They have always been really great with PvE, though. My friend keeps up with that stuff more than me and tells me they're still a top 20 guild in the world. Crazy stuff.

And I totally remember The Regulators. That's awesome. I might have to make a character on Laughing Skull again for old time's sake.

[Jodou]

They have always been really great with PvE, though. My friend keeps up with that stuff more than me and tells me they're still a top 20 guild in the world. Crazy stuff.
Not surprising, since WoW has always been a loot game where PvE reigned supreme. By the time we quit, there were almost no PvP guilds left on what was originally a premiere PvP server. Personally, I couldn't stand the grind for gear to compete in PvP and it destroyed a good number of great PK guilds sadly.

[huongnd]

I really am disappointed with the hunter atm. Major nerf. Its like starting all over again at level 80 which is a treat.

When you pass level 80 everything will be different, have fun:)



juno spore (http://game3a.com/en/207904/flash-game/juno-spore.html)

[Jodou]

What did they nerf for Hunter? I saw that they're removing mana and making them ranged rogues, but what else did they fuck up about the class?

[Puffa469]

A couple of quick questions:

I need to get Cataclysm deluxe edition for my wife and I need to have it on launch day.

I normally get my games through Amazon, but I don't see this as available for preorder.

Did I miss out on the change to preorder? Or is the game not available for preorder yet? Have they announced the release date?

Thanks!

[Jodou]

You're way late to the party. Better check B&M stores on release day because the collector's edition is sold out online.

[Puffa469]

You're way late to the party. Better check B&M stores on release day because the collector's edition is sold out online.


Damn, I thought as much. Well last time I got lucky and walked into the Best Buy down the street from my office when it opened and they had stacks of the collectors edition, so hopefully that will be the case again.


Thanks!

[Jodou]

Damn, I thought as much. Well last time I got lucky and walked into the Best Buy down the street from my office when it opened and they had stacks of the collectors edition, so hopefully that will be the case again.


Thanks!
Yeah, that's really your best bet because BB is almost always the last to run out of them. I remember seeing them for Lich King a couple days after it came out because nobody really shops for them there.

[JasonTerminator]

Yeah, that's really your best bet because BB is almost always the last to run out of them. I remember seeing them for Lich King a couple days after it came out because nobody really shops for them there.

This is a true story for me, but for WoW Vanilla CE instead. I think a lot of people just assume Best Buy is gonna be sold out, and Best Buy gets way more copies than it should.

Now if only Best Buy could stop sucking...

[huongnd]

This is a true story for me, but for WoW Vanilla CE instead. I think a lot of people just assume Best Buy is gonna be sold out, and Best Buy gets way more copies than it should.

Now if only Best Buy could stop sucking...

I agree with your comments

grizzly tank (http://game3a.com/en/20UfqU/flash-game/grizzly-tank.html)

[animalspinners]

Can anyone list (or provide a link) to all the major changes World of Warcraft has seen in say... the last two years?

Not all the little details, but just huge changes like the Warlock's soul shard deal. I know they have made finding a group for instances a lot easier, as well.

I want to jump back in with Cataclysm, but at this point I probably will have to reroll... I can't see using any of my two 80's off the bat because it seems like the game has changed that much.

Also, does anyone know of a good server to transfer to? I'll probably just transfer my characters off their home server to get a new start.

[Salamando3000]

http://www.wowpedia.org/Patches
(http://www.wowpedia.org/Patches)

There's a list to all patches WoW has seen, with some highlights pulled out for each one. You're going to want to actually look at the patch notes for 4.0.1, as that's the patch that did a number of how many classes operate. You may think that the game changed a lot, but you aren't alone on that. The day 4.0.1 hit, every class had to essentially relearn their class. Everyone that left WoW that is is coming back for cataclysm will go through the same thing.

[animalspinners]

http://www.wowpedia.org/Patches
(http://www.wowpedia.org/Patches)

There's a list to all patches WoW has seen, with some highlights pulled out for each one. You're going to want to actually look at the patch notes for 4.0.1, as that's the patch that did a number of how many classes operate. You may think that the game changed a lot, but you aren't alone on that. The day 4.0.1 hit, every class had to essentially relearn their class. Everyone that left WoW that is is coming back for cataclysm will go through the same thing.

Awesome, this is exactly what I was looking for, so thank you. The highlights really help.

The cross server dungeon finder is only limited to groups of five? Has there been any talk about increasing it for raids?

My work schedule really prevents me from doing the scheduled raids most guilds require. I have heard the raids have been made easier, are there more players who are up to just doing PUG raiding?

And yea, I know PUG's aren't the best, but like I said, it's hard to really commit to any sort of schedule within a guild. It's one of the main reasons I haven't really jumped back into WOW in the past year or so.

[Salamando3000]

Currently, the Dungeon finder is limited to just five-man groups. The official line on a similar tool for raid's is "not happening", since raids usually allow for more freedom in your comp. Not every raid requires the same number of tanks and healers, for example. For 5-mans though, the tool is pretty handy. If you're a healer or tank, you spend maybe 2 minutes looking for a group...DPS, maybe 10 minutes or so. Sure beats using the LFG channel anyways.

When it comes to raids, they definitely made them easier to gear up for. That much I can guarantee. Once a new raid comes out, you can effectively ignore all the old raids. Raids themselves, you're still going to need a number of players who have the knowledge of their class, acceptable gear, and the ability to learn and execute a strategy. There's a lot of fights in Icecrown Citadel that are really easy to explain, yet still people can screw them up enormously.

Which brings us to PUGs. It's not too hard to get in a PUG, but the easier it is to get in, the less likely it is to succeed. So, you'll probably have to pay your dues with a lot of bad pugs to get gear and the learn the fights. Still, seeing and beating an entire raid with a PUG is quite possible...I myself never ran a raid with my guild, yet was still able to down Lich King 25 in a PUG. You'll still need the time investment, albeit in a less structured manner.

[animalspinners]

Thanks for all the input Salamando!

What is a good server to relocate on? I think currently my characters are on Whisperwind and I'm looking for a change.

[Salamando3000]

The big thing you should look into when picking a server is hopping onto one a lot of people you know are already on. Barring that, as long as your server isn't horribly underpopulated or the Horde/Alliance ratio is grossly overbalanced (not in favor of you), it should be fine.