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You obviously haven't seen some of WoW's headgear. And I didn't even look that hard for these; I'm sure there's sillier.

You obviously haven't seen some of WoW's headgear. And I didn't even look that hard for these; I'm sure there's sillier.

Sounds like he just made a real life Thunderfury.

Watch out Thottbot...

Mmmmm....delicious cave mold!

Hmmm fish sticks http://thottbot.com/i27699 ...

How embarrassing for Microsoft and why didn't they just take a new picture?

Which leads me to another gripe: Considering Goblins have been a neutral faction in the MMORG up to this point, making them Horde-only just because they are getting help from the Horde seems completely silly considering all the help they've received from Alliance players via quests over the years. Not to mention that the closing off of a significant market that going to war with Alliance would represent also seems out of character for the Ferengi-like Capitalists.

While I really hate QQing, I guess I'm going to do some myself. :-( I agree fully. I very much would like to play a Goblin, but not enough that I want to roll a Hordie.

Every toon that I've leveled has gotten to Honored with the Steamwheedle Cartel.

I've run drugs http://thottbot.com/q1116 killed your competitors (Venture Co.), killed your enemies (the Bloodsail pirates), and run countless other errands for you and you are going to abandon my faction for the Horde? Booty Bay is my favorite city in the game. I cannot believe that I'm going to become KOS there.

TBC had flying around quests (bombing runs, exploratory),

Yeah. I revisited the bombing run in the hills near the Dark Portal many times before I got to level 70 and could fly on my own. Once I became friends with the Ogres in Ogri'La, I discovered my all-time favorite quest "Bomb Them Again!" http://thottbot.com/q11023

you can be just as effective in a new character after a few months in the same ship as my 2003 character, just I have a lot more choices.

That proves the opposite of the point you are trying to make. New players in World of Warcraft have every bit as many options as longer term players have once they reach the level cap. Of course, people whine about that too ...

Oh and the number one thing people whine about economically (mount money) is about to get nerfed when the 3.2 patch goes live.

The number two thing was the %s profession (latest previously scheduled one was Jewel Crafting) getting nerfed. Instead of nerfing JC, Blizzard has apparently decided to buff the other professions, also in the 3.2 patch.

As I see it, and I didn't start WoW until a month or so prior to TBC, I see a company doing its best trying to please as many of its customers as it can without destroying the game in the process. *That* is the true secret of WoW's success and something that SOE has apparently not learned. Explicit support for Macs and tacit support for Linux is just icing on the delicious chocolate cake http://thottbot.com/i33924

So he can get his:

Anal Revenge

[...] I mounted, and as I lept off into the horizon, I casted levitate. I came to a point where the map disappeared, but the water continued to stretch out into the distance.
Some theorize that this is where GM Island is located.
Okay, so we all know that GM Island is in an instance now. But like any instance, there's a non-instance version of it. Like when you set old world instances to "Heroic" and walk behind the portals. GM Island wasn't always an instance, and programmers just don't delete environment from the game. Case in point, Old Ironforge and Ironforge Airport.
Granted, you'd have to walk pretty far, assuming GM Island IS in that direction...
Moving on, it's unreachable alone...attempted it. However, multiple priests together could do this easy. Have 5 or so in a group together so they can heal off of each other with renew and circle of healing. Another tip, wear +healing gear that has no stamina. Fatigue hits for 20% of your max health every 1-3 seconds. Low health means low damage, high healing means you can heal over it. 5 priests means you can have a few of them sit back and relax while the others cast, so not everyone wastes mana.
If you are really interested in doing this, make it 4 priests and a warlock.
"Harmonex wishes to summon you to GM Island." [...] Of course, this is all under the assumption that GM Island even exists on the main map...

It's as if in real life, when you were sick of playing football with your friends, you could go home and chop wood

Hmmmm. http://thottbot.com/q13627

Ahh, I see I now have the "Level 80" achievement. Nice.

It's not quite Insane in the Membrane, but it'll do.

Why not shoot the people of Florida?

Great, let's start with you. PETA fuckwad.

Hey! I'm a D.E.H.T.A's Little P.I.T.A. http://thottbot.com/ach561 assmunch.

Seriously, would it be as much fun to either:

a) Beat a pedestrian to a pulp and take their cash

or

b) Ask nicely and have a random chance of getting a small amount of cash

I find myself strangely attracted to the "Maintaining Discipline" daily - http://thottbot.com/q13422 does that make me bad?

I wonder if it tastes like the other, other, OTHER white meat?

Personally, I think that if a game has enough of a grind factor that a bot can do it better than a human, then either the gameplay needs to be made more complex, or the option to bot should be included explicitly.

That argument makes no sense.

The problems with quests in the old world are typified by the Dream Dust quest. http://thottbot.com/q1116 The mobs that drop the quest items are in a tiny area of Swamp of Sorrows and at best there are only 3 or 4 spawned at a time. To make matters worse, the same mobs drop a very rare dragon vanity pet AND can be skinned for a rare and valuable leather. That's probably the poorest designed quest in the game.

Equally frustrating are the satyrs in Felwood that drop Felcloth (used to make Mooncloth by tailors and 16 slot bags), quite valuable even post BC because the other (easier to obtain) Netherweave 16 slot bag is BoP and the Mooncloth bag is BoE.

As a matter of fact though, I do not see how the game designer can completely avoid creating areas like that. Rare items are supposed to be well um, rare. It doesn't justify planting a bot in the right area and thus griefing everyone else in the realm. IMO.

Prt 2 Org 1g?

Prt = Portal (A Mage-class player can create portals for other players to use)
2 = to
Org = Orgrimmar (a major city)
1g = 1 gold (currency)

In this case a player is requesting a mage to teleport them to another city, and is willing to pay 1 gold. (Since the latest patch, most portals usually go for 2-5g... sometimes I even get 10g on the Eonar server.)

Tbl plz.

tbl = Table (A Mage-class player can create refreshment tables for other players)
plz = Please

A party member is asking a mage to create a table that they can use for food that replenishes health and mana.

Ned 1g.

Ned = Need
1g = 1 gold (currency)

Someone needs money. Usually you'll see this from the lower players asking higher players for money.

Can u rn me thru RFC? 10s

rn = run (a process where a higher-level character parties with a lower level character and then proceeds to do a low-level quest or dungeon so that the low-level character can complete a quest or get an item without doing any work)
RFC = Ragefire Chasm (a dungeon for a group of low level characters)
10s = 10 silver (currency... 1g = 100s)

A low level character is asking a presumably higher level character to do the dungeon for them, and is willing to pay 10s. (10s is nowhere near the price anyone would pay for a run. Hell, you'll pick up a few gold in the dungeon...)

Now you know, and can be nerdy like us. Just like us... Just like us... Just like us...

Prt 2 Org 1g?

Prt = Portal (A Mage-class player can create portals for other players to use)
2 = to
Org = Orgrimmar (a major city)
1g = 1 gold (currency)

In this case a player is requesting a mage to teleport them to another city, and is willing to pay 1 gold. (Since the latest patch, most portals usually go for 2-5g... sometimes I even get 10g on the Eonar server.)

Tbl plz.

tbl = Table (A Mage-class player can create refreshment tables for other players)
plz = Please

A party member is asking a mage to create a table that they can use for food that replenishes health and mana.

Ned 1g.

Ned = Need
1g = 1 gold (currency)

Someone needs money. Usually you'll see this from the lower players asking higher players for money.

Can u rn me thru RFC? 10s

rn = run (a process where a higher-level character parties with a lower level character and then proceeds to do a low-level quest or dungeon so that the low-level character can complete a quest or get an item without doing any work)
RFC = Ragefire Chasm (a dungeon for a group of low level characters)
10s = 10 silver (currency... 1g = 100s)

A low level character is asking a presumably higher level character to do the dungeon for them, and is willing to pay 10s. (10s is nowhere near the price anyone would pay for a run. Hell, you'll pick up a few gold in the dungeon...)

Now you know, and can be nerdy like us. Just like us... Just like us... Just like us...

Isn't this how the Boston Tea Party started? How can they possibly think to tax online gamers hard earned gold without some form of representation? This is blatantly taxation without representation.

I, for one, think that this opens up a need for seats in congress for Night Elves, Gnomes, Orcs, and even Tauren (as long as they promise to first take a bath). Sorry Humans, you've already got enough reps on the hill. We'll need HUGE multi-panel monitors setup all around the House chambers ... at least ... 130" tall so that each representative can be rendered at his/her real size ... and full sound systems for each so that their voice can be HEARD!

And why stop there? We need seats on appropriations committees, too! Lets put those tax dollars ...err ... tax golds to work! How about a fast train system linking Ironforge to Undercity? Faster gryphon rides? or better yet ... FASTER LOGIN QUEUES for overloaded servers??

Until we get all of this, I say we should each buy Tea from a local vendor and then drop it while standing at the harbor in Booty Bay. Below is a helpful list of some of the teas which might be appropriate:

Honeymint Tea, Green Garden Tea, Thistle Tea, Goldthorn Tea, or even Green Tea Leaf

Isn't this how the Boston Tea Party started? How can they possibly think to tax online gamers hard earned gold without some form of representation? This is blatantly taxation without representation.

I, for one, think that this opens up a need for seats in congress for Night Elves, Gnomes, Orcs, and even Tauren (as long as they promise to first take a bath). Sorry Humans, you've already got enough reps on the hill. We'll need HUGE multi-panel monitors setup all around the House chambers ... at least ... 130" tall so that each representative can be rendered at his/her real size ... and full sound systems for each so that their voice can be HEARD!

And why stop there? We need seats on appropriations committees, too! Lets put those tax dollars ...err ... tax golds to work! How about a fast train system linking Ironforge to Undercity? Faster gryphon rides? or better yet ... FASTER LOGIN QUEUES for overloaded servers??

Until we get all of this, I say we should each buy Tea from a local vendor and then drop it while standing at the harbor in Booty Bay. Below is a helpful list of some of the teas which might be appropriate:

Honeymint Tea, Green Garden Tea, Thistle Tea, Goldthorn Tea, or even Green Tea Leaf

Isn't this how the Boston Tea Party started? How can they possibly think to tax online gamers hard earned gold without some form of representation? This is blatantly taxation without representation.

I, for one, think that this opens up a need for seats in congress for Night Elves, Gnomes, Orcs, and even Tauren (as long as they promise to first take a bath). Sorry Humans, you've already got enough reps on the hill. We'll need HUGE multi-panel monitors setup all around the House chambers ... at least ... 130" tall so that each representative can be rendered at his/her real size ... and full sound systems for each so that their voice can be HEARD!

And why stop there? We need seats on appropriations committees, too! Lets put those tax dollars ...err ... tax golds to work! How about a fast train system linking Ironforge to Undercity? Faster gryphon rides? or better yet ... FASTER LOGIN QUEUES for overloaded servers??

Until we get all of this, I say we should each buy Tea from a local vendor and then drop it while standing at the harbor in Booty Bay. Below is a helpful list of some of the teas which might be appropriate:

Honeymint Tea, Green Garden Tea, Thistle Tea, Goldthorn Tea, or even Green Tea Leaf

Isn't this how the Boston Tea Party started? How can they possibly think to tax online gamers hard earned gold without some form of representation? This is blatantly taxation without representation.

I, for one, think that this opens up a need for seats in congress for Night Elves, Gnomes, Orcs, and even Tauren (as long as they promise to first take a bath). Sorry Humans, you've already got enough reps on the hill. We'll need HUGE multi-panel monitors setup all around the House chambers ... at least ... 130" tall so that each representative can be rendered at his/her real size ... and full sound systems for each so that their voice can be HEARD!

And why stop there? We need seats on appropriations committees, too! Lets put those tax dollars ...err ... tax golds to work! How about a fast train system linking Ironforge to Undercity? Faster gryphon rides? or better yet ... FASTER LOGIN QUEUES for overloaded servers??

Until we get all of this, I say we should each buy Tea from a local vendor and then drop it while standing at the harbor in Booty Bay. Below is a helpful list of some of the teas which might be appropriate:

Honeymint Tea, Green Garden Tea, Thistle Tea, Goldthorn Tea, or even Green Tea Leaf

Isn't this how the Boston Tea Party started? How can they possibly think to tax online gamers hard earned gold without some form of representation? This is blatantly taxation without representation.

I, for one, think that this opens up a need for seats in congress for Night Elves, Gnomes, Orcs, and even Tauren (as long as they promise to first take a bath). Sorry Humans, you've already got enough reps on the hill. We'll need HUGE multi-panel monitors setup all around the House chambers ... at least ... 130" tall so that each representative can be rendered at his/her real size ... and full sound systems for each so that their voice can be HEARD!

And why stop there? We need seats on appropriations committees, too! Lets put those tax dollars ...err ... tax golds to work! How about a fast train system linking Ironforge to Undercity? Faster gryphon rides? or better yet ... FASTER LOGIN QUEUES for overloaded servers??

Until we get all of this, I say we should each buy Tea from a local vendor and then drop it while standing at the harbor in Booty Bay. Below is a helpful list of some of the teas which might be appropriate:

Honeymint Tea, Green Garden Tea, Thistle Tea, Goldthorn Tea, or even Green Tea Leaf

Ever since I started killing boars for their intestines, I dreamed of the day where I could taste just a slice of WoW. I just hope this restaurant follows canonical recipes.

Bear Meat + Boar Intestines + Spider Ichor = Crazy Delicious Blood Sausage

Mmm, I can smell it cooking right now.

Speaking of Blizzard spicing up quests...

I have to mention my favorite quest so far, the "suicide bomber" quest in Howling Fjord. Running a big golem bomb around a town grabbing aggro then detonating leaving a big mess. Easy and fun.

Then there is the tank quest in the Borean Tundra area where you drive a tank with a cannon and saw blade on the front. I think one of Blizzard's developers must've been a Carmageddon fan.

The quests are nicely clustered geographically which means I can crank through almost 10 or so in a couple hours. The new tabard rule for gaining reputation also means I have greater freedom for how and where I gain reputation. In TBC if the only group I can find wants to run an instance I can't gain rep from anymore I felt like I was wasting my time. That is no longer the case.

They're not common, but here's a turkey.

PETA is like D.H.E.T.A. except they're all humans. As a member of the horde I routinely slaughter PETA members whenever possible.

Preference: Have killed Illidan (I retired after a few Illidan kills and SWP was not out yet.) with my Feral Druid, has a early T5ish Orc Warrior, and was working on a Tankadin (level 66) when I left the game. Unsure if I'm going to check out LK but I digress.

The whole thing about TBC was that they did a few things that impacted tanking. First and foremost was the idea that Warriors were not going to be the only real tanks anymore. This was a major shift from pre-TBC, aka WoW 1.x, where for all intents and purposes Warriors where the only tanks. While raiding Naxx pre-TBC we did actually have a Feral Druid at one point but I mean he still had to use the Warden Staff.

With TBC came the idea that Warriors were not going to be the only tanks anymore. However this was not to be an easy transition. First of all many Warriors thought they should always be the only tanks. Never mind that in WoW 1.x they were the only real hybrids (Tanking/DPS) in the game but that's a whole other can of worms. So they put up quite a fuss when the Feral Druids hit the scene and started, "Taking der jerbs!" So TBC started with Feral Druids hit with one of the biggest nerfs in the game ever. Such a hard nerf that Blizzard had to go back and hotfix them so that they could generate enough threat to continue tanking at all.

Now I'll say that early on Feral Druids were a bit OP to start with but the problem then became one of scale. Feral Druids ended up scaling poorly at T6+ levels and blah blah blah. Bottom line is that it was not exactly a seamless transition. And we've not even gotten to the Tankadins or the impact that Arena PvP had on the the Warrior population yet!

The Tankadins, while having a lot of gear now to choose from, were still kinda squishy. All the more so given there preferred method of tanking. (CC == Constant Consecration) So they needed a few buffs to bring them up to speed. And they got them eventually which was a good thing. But still when it came to raiding they were still often viewed as the trash tank who then put on some shaman gear to heal with when it was time to fight the boss. (Or booted from the raid for the more hardcore even.)

In short there were a number of balance issues that the tanks had to deal with due to a poorly implemented move to making Warriors no longer the only tank. Add to this the fact, which was pretty apparent but never really said until the LK beta forums, that the whole design of TBC was based around the idea of the Warrior still being the 'primary' tank with Druids/Paladins being more support tanks.

Enter LK. As I said before the idea of a 'primary' tank is supposedly gone. GK has said a number of times that they want all 4 of the tanking classes to be able to be the MT if they, and their guild, so choose. Time will tell as to how this all will play out but they sure have said it enough such that I tend to think that they are at least trying. This is, and they have said this as well, a shift in design philosophy that is even different from what happened in TBC.

So while gear was an issue it's not the whole part of the issue when it came to tanking in TBC. There was an underlying design philosophy that caused what happened. Along with a number of, if you want to be kind, honest mistakes as they were making the transition from Warriors being the only tanks to other classes being viable in that role.

In WoW, Apolyon, the Soul-Render is Blizzard's IP, and they let you use it if your raid kills the big boss dude. Perhaps it's like being able use the coolest chess set if you're the best in the club.

If a player creates something cool in Second Life, it would be their IP.

I agree. I played briefly on a 40x experience pirate server ...

I think the word you're looking for is 'private' as the private servers are where people replicate what the Blizzard servers do.

Pirate servers are where everyone starts with this.

Sounds like you've never played an MMO...

Services like thottbot are what makes the crappy quests tolerable.

Will be Northrend, employed by Thottbot!

Literally...

Seriously though - WoW isn't about winning the game - if you start playing with that in mind - forget about it.

For me its largely a social experience. I play with my friends at work (and elsewhere) if they quit playing I probably would too.

You're right. There are a ton of different creatures. Each unique.

You're right. There are a ton of different creatures. Each unique.

You're right. There are a ton of different creatures. Each unique.

You're right. There are a ton of different creatures. Each unique.

You're right. There are a ton of different creatures. Each unique.

You're right. There are a ton of different creatures. Each unique.

You're right. There are a ton of different creatures. Each unique.

You're right. There are a ton of different creatures. Each unique.

You're right. There are a ton of different creatures. Each unique.

You're right. There are a ton of different creatures. Each unique.

At least we now know the primary constituent element of arcane crystals.

Most quests are pretty short in terms of how many things you have to kill. Five or ten mobs, or something like that. Hardly what anyone would call grinding.
The longest I can think of off the top of my head is "Message to the Wildhammer" ( http://thottbot.com/q7841 ), which requires you to kill a total of 60 things.

The point he was trying(at least I am hoping he was trying) to make is that in WoW the difference between a lower level and a higher level is pretty vast and outright. Lower levels are worthless in groups, or parties. In Ultima Online, you only grind if you feel the need to. You are virtually effective at any level. Just at higher levels you are more effective. This was one of Garriot's core game design issues when designing UO. I remember high "level" players coming to my blacksmith for gear, and repairs well before I was 100 in my blacksmithy skill(which is the max in UO).

Can you say the same in WoW? Is there any reason for a high level player to go to a low level crafter? Or how about low level players helping on high level quests?

Maybe they mean Dark Iron?

There's an interesting nod to one of his games in World of Warcraft as well. There's a quest chain, It's a Secret to Everybody, which is long and involved, and has many references to The Legend of Zelda, including a green-cloaked gnome named "Linken" who is the central character in the quest chain through which you help him recover his sword.

And don't forget the "Tenacious Defender" - "It has the power... to move you" http://www.thottbot.com/i24091

You are rewarded with more power, but you're never really an unstoppable force