Shared Topics: Future Cataclysm content patches and Your Favorite Weapon

Yay! Two Shared Topics! What a fantastic way to end the weekend!

The first Shared Topic, from two weeks ago (I left it open an extra week since it was such a good topic and I was hoping to read more posts on it- yes I’m selfish like that) was suggested by Ringo Flinthammer of Flinthammer Hall. He got us thinking about future content patches and what we were hoping to see from. The timing ended up being perfect since the 4.1 PTR notes were released right at the end of the Topic.

Although players are still busy digging through all of the Cataclysm raid and heroic content, some are already starting to wonder what we’ll see added to the game in the 4.1 patch and beyond. While we have some hints, what do you expect to see added over the life of the expansion? How many patches? How many new dungeons? What will happen to your favorite professions? And how will the expansion’s storyline continue to unfold — and which loose ends will be wrapped up by the time the 5.0 patch is released?

Speculating were:

Aliera from The Violet Scribe

TwilliK from The Arcane Envoy

Rustbeard from Little Blue Dog

Beniffer from Blind Deaf Mute

And this week’s Shared Topic was an old favourite, causing an eruption of weapon appeal analysis. Kallixta of Kallixta’s Notes was the suggester.

I was comparing a new upgrade to my older item when it struck me how much I liked my old item. Like is wonderfully subjective and I hope others will explain their measure.

Is your favorite weapon something with strong memories for you? Is it something that just works well for RP purposes? Or maybe the balance of abilities meshes better than normal to your spec and play style?

Sharing their favorites are:

Kallixta from Kallixta’s Notes (who also wrote an RP version)

Larisa from The Pink Pigtail Inn

Garona from PvE Rogues

Val from Honeymint Tea

Aliera from The Violet Scribe

Hadrimda from Hadrimda’s Blog

Amaranth from Specced for Drama

Halophoenix from Azeroth Metblogs

Sarindre from Through the Eyes of a Tree

Kamalia from Kamalia et alia

Saz from World of Saz

And for the upcoming week, get ready for some factions heat! The Horde, are they becoming the “evil” side of WoW? As the tale of Azeroth unfold, they’re more and more depicted as merciless killers. Do we sense a good vs evil fight between Allience and Horde coming up? Blog about it and share a link to your post with us at Blog Azeroth!

As for future topics, get ready for:
Favorite Profession
Is the Horde close to conquering Azeroth?
Favourite Race

Resource Site Spotlight – State of DPS

[insert class/spec here] is overpowered!

[insert class/spec here] needs to be buffed!

How many times have we heard this? For me, too many to count, and enough to induce nausea. Frankly I am of the opinion that a raid environment would function far better if meters were only visible to the raid leader. And this is quite hypocritical of someone who prided himself on min/maxing every last detail of his Rogue in an attempt to be at the top of the meters throughout ToGC and ICC, spending hours pouring over sims and spreadsheets to eek out the last drop of dps possible.

However, despite hanging up my daggers (for now at least) and taking up the mantle of a healer, I still know how much dps plays a role in Warcraft endgame raiding. And the discussion will never end of “what spec is the top dps”. State of DPS exists for one reason only. To parse out the data from World of Logs and take a weighted average of the top 200 DPS’ers in the world and chart their numbers, to show what is the overall top damage spec, and on specific fights.

It isn’t fancy. It isn’t flashy. It is simple, clean, and efficient in what it gives us. For me, it does bring a sad Ril tear to my eye to see that Subtlety Rogues are by far and away the lowest damage producing spec in the game. I miss the days of Burning Crusade Shadowstep Swords PvP more than I could ever explain… but alas…

So yes, State of DPS is simple. It gives us the current state of dps in World of Warcraft high end progression raiding. Should you feel bad that you are not producing the numbers listed here? NO. If you do, let me reach out through the inter-nether and smack you. However, this could give reasoning to why that Shadow Priest in your guild is creaming you on the meters, despite you having slightly better gear.

Especially if you are the poor fool still trying to raid as Subtlety spec.

I tip my hat to you, sir.

Cheers!

~Rilandune

You can follow me on twitter at twitter.com/rilandune | read my (currently nuked but coming back soon) blog – Heroically Random | Listen to the other Twisted Nether podcast, The OverLores, of which I am a cohost

Netherhood Welcome Wagon – Healer Aggro

Hello Everyone! I’d like you to join me in wecloming Ttrinity from Healer Aggro!

Ttrinity started playing WoW at the end of 2008 and is a self-proclaimed “noob” (in the best sense, of course!) and alt-o-holic. WoW is her first MMO and Ttrinity finds that she learns things daily about the game – often to the amusement of herself and her guildmates! While she has played all four healing classes at the end game level, she has settled (for now!) to tackle Cataclysm with her Disc Priest.

Healer Aggro won’t focus on theory crafting or class guides – but will focus on Ttrinity’s journey as a new player through WoW as she learns to heal her way through both 5 man and raid content and the lessons that she learns along the way.   She recently gave us some insights on how she feels Blizzard is driving how we heal via their new healing model, limitations in specing and constant hot fixes being made to healers.  She also offers some very good insight on when WoW feels like a job and how to combat those feelings.

Ttrinity knows how to have fun exploring old content with a very small group of friends and encourages you to do the same! What? You aren’t into retro raiding? (Your loss!) But not to worry, Ttrinity has your back and will help you determine if you are raid ready and offers her thoughts on the cylces of gearing. She is also quite curious why there is no Ollivander’s in WoW to help fit those wand carrying casters with their very own ash-phoenix tail wands!  I would be remiss to not recommend her great guide to the random dungeon game and using what some may consider unorthodox methods to find success in those early heroics!

I don’t know about you, but I sure am looking forward to more from Ttrinity!

Ttrinity is off to a great start, and I’ll be honest – she is no “noob” when it comes to writing!  🙂  I know that I certainly can’t wait to see what she has to say next!  Welcome to the blogosphere, Ttrinity!

Every Tuesday, Beruthiel from Falling Leaves and Wings is bringing you the Welcome Wagon, introducing new bloggers and great reads. If you know of a new blog to the scene or wish to get your name out there, please send an email to fallingleaves51@gmail.com, with the subject line “Welcome Wagon.” She’ll do her best to highlight as many as possible!

Resource Site Spotlight – Fitzcairn’s Macro Explain-o-matic

There are in World of Warcraft several under-utilized features. One major example is ones ability to fully customize their User Interface (UI) – to solve this one needs only to listen to the end of every Twisted Nether Blogcast for the Addon and UI Modification segment /endshamelessplug. The biggest example, the most under-utilized feature of this game has got to be macros. I use macros on every character in all situations and I know for a fact that I am not using the system to even a fraction of its capability.

For class/role specific macros there are a plethora of sources. Simply search for them in your search engine of choice and you will inevitably come upon the script that you need only copy and paste into your in-game macro menu to execute. However, the script may be old. Or perhaps there is a misspelling or punctuation error. Or perhaps the site simply says, “if you are a warrior tank, use this macro” but does not even bother to tell you what it will do.

Our intrepid hero arrives – Fitzcairn’s Macro Explain-o-matic!

It is rare that a utility or resource could be so singularly efficient and useful at that same time. This site is amazing. It does but one simple thing – explains what your macro will do. That’s it! Just paste your macro into the field and hit “Explain this macro!” and it does just as advertised.

In all honesty there are other functionalities on the site, I don’t wish to make Fitzcairn’s Macro Explain-o-matic! sound like a true one-trick-pony, but the front page has but one blessed feature and function, the macro explanation tool. I encourage everyone to go to any reputable site they can find, copy a macro, paste it into the Explain-o-matic, and see if the function of the macro matches the authors description from the source from which it was found. I know for a fact, this site is going to save me a great deal of time in explaining syntax and punctuation to guild mates, which I am only just barely qualified to do, as a very casual user of macros.

Fitzcairn’s Macro Explain-o-matic! for all your macro functionality checking needs.

Also, full disclosure as I am certain someone will call me out on this, I did indeed get this site from the bonus drop of the week on this weeks The Instance show.

Cheers!

~Rilandune

You can follow me on twitter at twitter.com/rilandune | read my (currently nuked but coming back soon) blog – Heroically Random | Listen to the other Twisted Nether podcast, The OverLores, of which I am a cohost

Netherhood Welcome Wagon – Dwarven Battle Medic

Hello Everyone!  I’d like you to join me in welcoming Fannon of Dwarven Battle Medic!

Fannon is healer of the holy specialty – with a penchant for paladins and priests (well, and Dwarves, if that wasn’t obvious!). He spends his time in WoW battle for victory with his guild Shadowgarde, a casual raiding guild on the Sargeras server (they are currently seeking more healers!). In fact, setting goals to meet your playtimes is something that Fannon has spent sometime thinking about. Part of setting goals also means that it’s important to recognize and celebrate your successes as well. Fannon also explores some of the struggles of being a key raid member, and the feelings of obligation that may come with that role.

Fannon also has your back if you are a holy paladin just getting started with raiding. You can find tips and tricks for healing Magmaw. As well as some updates on the ever changing state of the Holy Paladin. Oh, and let’s not forget help with getting your Guardian of the Ancient Kings to shut up already!

Not into Paladins? No worries! Fannon proves to be a very versatile writer! I’d recommend checking out his series on on heroics. Or perhaps his thoughts on what identifies a main is more up your alley. No? Then perhaps you will enjoy his thoughts on Warcraft and Writing! No?! Wow! Tough customer! Then I’d recommend that you check out his great primer on Archeology! And if that doesn’t convince you don’t worry! I have a fail safe! You see, Fannon’s been preparing for a lot more than raids these days – the Dwarfling is absolutely adorable! (Say it with me now! “D’awwwwwww”).

Fannon is off to a fantastic start! I don’t know about you, but I sure am looking forward to more adventures with the Dwarven Battle Medic!  Welcome to the Blogosphere, Fannon!  (And Dwarfling!).

Every Tuesday, Beruthiel from Falling Leaves and Wings is bringing you the Welcome Wagon, introducing new bloggers and great reads. If you know of a new blog to the scene or wish to get your name out there, please send an email to fallingleaves51@gmail.com, with the subject line “Welcome Wagon.” She’ll do her best to highlight as many as possible!