After another grind session last week, I got him to level 78, and somewhere missed the memo that Cataclysm content would not be available until level 80. Disappointed that he would have to grind Icecrown, he didn’t make it to 80 until this past weekend. Bravely strolling into Hyjal, I suddenly discovered that the gap between gear I had and the gear I should have had felt quite staggering.

My previous characters in the area were all decently geared. The lowest was at least in full 200 from heroics, the highest was in full tier 10. No issues with them, besides perhaps wonky new rotations (looking at you, ret pally from hell…), but I know it was not gear issues causing irritation.

Upon hitting 80 with the warrior, I was hit with an annoying issue. I was (still am mostly) getting slaughtered, having to break between each kill to pray for health. Above that, I did not meet gearscore requirements for even Wrath heroics. However, since it is assumed we should all have better gear by then, I was locked from random queues for regular dungeons. Yes, I could have manually queued for regulars, and sat for over an hour with no luck (which I indeed tried), but what does that help?

It again may just be me and my jaded thought that maybe with Wrath heroics being comparatively easy, maybe they shouldn’t have set a gear score on the lower tier. I don’t mind the later ones being that way, but damn!

Good news is that after an hour of being killed repeatedly, I got enough gear to get the gs up enough to get on with things. Sucks that its all tank itemized. Maybe it’s just my luck…

Edit: Fixed some errors because Android predictive text is a joke and half made up…

I have noticed that a big part of the complaints are now surfacing about patch 4.1 and with the reuse of yet more old content. I’m not saying people aren’t allowed to be angry, but really, repeated threats of quitting won’t be chaning the way Blizzard handles their products. It’s akin to telling the tobacco companies that you’re going to stop smoking unless they make their product better for you, and only you. The outcome is predictable, go nerdrage over something that you can actually do something about. 

This does go back to the Wrath-baby idea though, that perhaps the new players then, and certainly more now, maybe did not get to experience the areas in question. With the area redesign, anyone who started playing this expansion did miss out on the original Zul’Gurub, while some of us played it relentlessly trying for mounts and reputation. Likewise, being able to jump into the new content, many would be missing out on the second tier raiding of Burning Crusade, Zul’Aman.

My original guild was just starting on ZA when I started playing. I liked the pace of the raid, though we weren’t good enough to ever get the mount. There was plenty going on that It was worth paying attention. I’ll say that my main toon is still using the bag you can get from questing in there. That’s right, even two expansions later…a 20 slot bag back then was hot stuff.

I suppose with all that being said, I am excited to see the changes and new things coming to the 5 man versions. Yes, I’m excited about new mounts and pets, but I’m a collector of such things. That is another post all on its own though. New content coming out should just make people happy. Do they realize that Blizzard makes these updates in content just because they want to? They don’t actually have to do that, many companies don’t even bother.

For the raiders arguing about a patch without next tier content, I refer you to above once again. I’ve previously discussed the learning curve of this expansion, and it is no surprise that many guilds still have not seen most of the raid content already released. That people are already so eager-beaver about wanting it all right now just shows how selfish the player base is getting. Even if I was the group that just got Glory of the Cataclysm Raider, I still don’t think I would mind a little longer to bask in the glow before being shoved into the new insanity.

Either way, I suppose people will perch on whatever side or fence that they want. It just seems to me that there are more angry souls out there than there really should be. It’s a game after all. Remember what that meant to you as a kid?

Blizzard has both eased some of my frustrations, and created even more with some of their decisions. No, I don’t blame them for making changes, but some things just seem really ham handed. Case in point, tremor totem is pretty worthless now. By the time you cast it, whatever you were trying to counter has worn off, and you can only use it about once a fight now. What is a Shaman without totems? It’s like making stances or presences or stealth redundant. Stop ruining classes by taking away their unique mechanics…seriously.

I did not mind the buff to the lfd pugs, I have finally been able to have some fun. Granted, I feel like I’m off tanking half the time anymore, but that’s still a problem with fake tanks wanting instant dungeons. I have finally got the gear to do raids, though I suddenly feel like I’m ahead of most of the guild again. I just can’t seem to find a balance. With that said, I also got my Hunter and Druid to 85, and managed to get Raven Lord mounts for all three. Currently working on my 83 Death Knight and 74 Worgen Warrior, but I have no idea when those will be done.

I have more to talk about of a non-Warcraft variety, so that will have to wait until the next post. Also, more information about patch 4.1 that may or may not excite anyone.

The longest I managed to have a group stay together was ten minutes. That amounts to maybe two deaths on any given boss before someone would ragequit on the group, and the rest would follow suit. The best one was a Grim Batol run that had just happened to get past the first boss before a dps dropped and I got pulled in. On Forgemaster, both attempts, he pulled shield first. Mr. Bear stands in the flame and dies both times, aggro switching to me each time. I go down, other Druid gets the bear back up, who is by then swearing at me instead of doing his job. Lovely group that was…

I don’t blame Blizzard for making it hard, I blame the idiots who think that every fight is and should be tank and spank. My other new issue I have are groups that I pug into expecting me to clear trash that they snuck by. Had it happen in Lost City, and on a Dire Maul run on my Worgen. Are people just that lazy now?

Yeah, this pretty much just turned into a rant. Maybe next week I can get into a guild group instead of these lame ass pugs…

So, the new year has begin, and I have gone back to hunting mounts and pets in the game that have been trying to elude me for a couple years now. Raven Lord is still hiding from me, and I’m sure he will be the last of them to drop. Over 70 runs so far, my luck isn’t so great.

I did manage to get the Swift White Hawkstrider in 15 runs, and the phoenix hatchling on the 16th run over the past couple days. I never have to run the terrace again on Micathius, and that makes me happy in some strange way. Now, if I could find a way to make runs for Midnight, the fiery warhorse, we would be in good business.

Other than that, I am still rather lacking. I know I should be hearing my main up if I have any wish of keeping a potential raid spot in the guild, but I still haven’t been in a group who worked well enough to actually take down a boss in heroics. I think perhaps this week I will aproach some people in the guild and are if I can get back on track again.

I think I need an honest vacation…

The stats at 85 are insane. Before the last patches, my enhacemebt Shaman was sitting just above 24k health. After the patch it jumped to over 32k. Now in mostly questing blues and greens, Micathius is sitting at 92k unbuffed. You can imagine my surprise when I had around 102k while running around in a dungeon a few hours ago. I’m thinking my old school mount runs will never be the same again…

All in all, Cataclysm is insane. The questing is decent and will hand your ass to you if you aren’t watching. The only question now is if I keep working on Micathius, or if I move on to the rest of my small army. There are still skills to explore, professions to level, and of course achievements to chase after. So much to do, I’m still debating on it all.

One last note, I really wish they would have just kept the guild reputation open. As it is now, you can only gain so much per week, and I’m sure that is to keep people from changing guilds like crazy, but its just one more stupid thing that I have to remember to get each week. Guild leveling is limited too, however that is more understandable to me. That amount is reset every day though, so as long as you keep up, most guilds will hit 25 within the same day or two. Now it get people together to do guild achievements…

I will be standing in line in about eighteen hours or so for my brother’s copy, as that is what he wanted for Christmas. My copy will be later coming, sometime Tuesday assuming amazon doesn’t screw things up as badly as I have previously dealt with. At this point, I’m still thinking we are all crazy for doing what we do for video games. I am glad that we still care about things though.

Beta went out quietly, I didn’t even hear about it until someone posted the article and blue post somewhere. As much fun as I had, I was happy to free up the extra fifteen gigs on my laptop that the monster took up. Now I’m left wondering if that play will dampen the excitement of doing it all for real this time through. I know some things will have changed, but then again I was pretty impressed. Not sure if that was from not having any new questing content for a year and a half or not, but that’s what I have fun doing. Raid burn out sucks.

That being said, I was not able to see the fall of the Lich King before release as I had wanted. Vivid, my current guild, had progressed to him only about three weeks ago, and we just couldn’t get him down. I’m thinking it was mostly a gear issue, but not having a solid roster every week hurt as well. Then again, stupid pugs hurt as well. I suppose we will now drastically out level the content, get insane gear, then go hand his ass to him. It was like finally leveling up enough to go kick the fel rever really hard after the first time going through Helfire. There was just something satisfying about it.

With this being possibly my last post during Wrath, I’d like to wish it farewell on its way. If I manage to do anything interesting, I may toss something up, who knows.

Good luck, I’ll see you all on the other side!

We shall blame it all on the Shattering, sounds like as good of a plan as any.

“Look at his fur, black as the Grimtotem’s!”

“He is not painted like them though. Maybe he has been outcast even from them…”

“He does not even carry a true weapon! Nothing but a pointed stick. It is a wonder he was not eaten by the kodo before now…”

The roar of laughter felt like arrows being plunged into his ears. Not a word had escaped him as he had been set upon by Bloodhoof Village Braves, hooves trampling the sad excuse for a spear. It had been enough to keep the prowlers at bay, but drove the Braves only to more laughter.

“I was sent to seek training. I know nothing of these Grimtotem!”

The blow to the back of his head sent the world spinning as he fell forward from his knees. Fingers dig into the earth as he fought for purchase, the sky above seeming to boil with clouds.

“No Grimtotem shall train with us. The Chieftain may allow living on the Bluff, but you were foolish to come here!”

Head lowered, he felt the shift of weight as weapon was raised to bring a swift end. Eyes closed, he felt his fur rise as if he were in a lightening storm. The flash and sudden crack that illuminated the night and shifted the ground brought screams and yells that were in turn drowned out by the following thunder which shook the ground like a rattle.

The pounding of hoof against stone brought his focus back, more of the village coming to investigate as the Braves fled. An elder bull led, shaking his great bulk as he neared the abandoned stranger.

“Who are you, that the elements themselves would seek to protect you?”

“In fear I asked Sky Father to help me…”

“And he did. Lift your head and tell me who you are.”

Soft torch light reflected off of his golden eyes as he finally looked up. “The old ones called me Micathius before they sent me away. They told me to train and gain the knowledge they could not give me.”

The elder snorted softly but smiled, reaching down to help Micathius to his feet. “Well, it would seem that the elements have choosen you as their next shaman.”

Part One: Son of Darkness

Micathius grunted to himself as he glaced up the trunk of a great tree, a mechanical squirrel chittering back down at him angerly. The mechanical contraption turned its attention away to preen, teeth clacking as the gears whirred. So much for being a devoted pet, it had shot up the tree the first chance it had gotten.

“It is not natural, the way it moves so quickly. Are there no living creatures you would rather lend you company?”

The shaman snorted and reached for a low branch. “An engineer was showing them off. I found it interesting, there is nothing wrong with that.” He pulled on the branch to test it, frowning as it bent a bit too easily for his liking.

“Please tell me that you are not going to climb up after it…There are better wisdoms that should be considered.” The older tauren looked at him sternly, folding his arms across his chest.

Micathius glanced back, brushing his hands off. “Perhaps you are right. What has brought you out to see my foolishness?”

“Your presence has been requested by the elders. I would imagine they have been watching you just as closely as everyone else.”

“I will come, go tell them I will arrive shortly.” He turned his attention back to the tree, leaving the other to shake his head and fade back into the village. Micathius closed his eyes for a long moment, letting his breath go slowly until a sudden stiff wind pitched up and blew the little mechanical creature off its branch. He laughed as he caught it and headed back himself.

The greater hut of the spiritual leaders was set apart from the rest, not as big as that which housed other trainers, but situated on top of a platform. It was circled on the outside by huge kodo heads, marking it further apart from the other tents. The fire which flickered pleasantly in the center felt nice on the early Spring morning, enough that a couple of the flaps had been opened for his arrival.

Micathius kneeled down and bowed his head in respect as he entered the door, a few tired faces stopping to acknowledge him. He nudged himself closer to the fire in his usual way of training, waiting to be addressed.

“Micathius, you have grown much since you have come to us. You have natural talent that we feel may well lead you far. However, there is a darkness we must all face in our time.”

The old bull took a long draw from his pipe, watching the curls of smoke for a long moment. Micathius itched to play a small breeze through the tendrals to see them dance, but he restrained himself. His teachers frowned upon using the elements for such trivial entertainments, but somehow he felt that even the oldest spirit could enjoy a little fun.

“The darkness of uncertainty wraps around all of us in due time, and it is our place as shaman to meet it head on. You have much to still discover and learn of us, of yourself. We have given all that we are able.”

His silence brought the realization clear to Micathius, he was being dismissed from the village. He blinked a few times, keeping his eyes to the flames.

“I mean no disrespect, Elder, but why do you send me away? What has made this my time?” His eyes were like firey melted gold as he finally glanced up.

“You came to us in darkness with fur as dark as pitch, an ill omen but for your golden eyes and how strongly the elements spoke for you. We feared you a trick of our enemies sent to rot our people from the inside out. However, you have learned well and grown not only as a shaman but as a tauren as well. Your lessons now must come from the elements themselves, out beyond the plains and mountains that guard our home.”

The others around the circle nodded their agreement, many looks offering encouragement. It was not a punishment being lowered upon him, but the gentle shove into a journey of discovery. It was a path that all shaman had to walk before they truly became as they were destined, the only way they could learn to exist on the deeper levels of their work.

“You will find in your way how to best work with the elements, how best they work with you, how you will fit into the greater puzzle. We strive to be greater than the sum of our parts, however we do not always see the plan laid out before us. For now, yours is simple. A ghost wolf will lead you on the first of your journey, then you will be left to your means. Though you came to us as a son of darkness, you leave us with a light of promise. May the spirits watch over you, Micathius.”

He was still feeling self-aware as he left the tent and looked upon the village for the last time. What little he had had already been put away in a pack and waited for him. ‘Always the last to know,’ he thought. As soon as he had the will to take the sapta, he was on his way to the fields he had only ever seen from a distance.

To be continued…

Note: Slightly revised some errors because my phone likes to predict the wrong text for me quite often…

Yeah, I bet the Horde likes to backdoor you guys...

I have to admit that I am having fun with the little bit of time that I have left with the beta, running around on my Worgen warrior. I haven’t played as a warrior before, so it’s different and entertaining since it is all new questing as well. I’m sure I wasn’t the first or last to get disenfranchised with leveling through the same old thing. Vanilla Barrens can go die…really. It is also one of my few Alli toons. I very much like the Horde better, but my love of wolves and old English goofiness with werewolves outpowered it for the beta test.

Of course, my Tauren shaman will be my first 85 I imagine, those new areas are pretty damn exciting too, but I’m having fun just seeing the goofy humor that seems to be running rampant. Some for the kiddies, and some of us who were kiddies long and not so long ago. It’s like going to see a Pixar or Dreamworks animation anymore. You know they throw stuff in there for the parents who have to take their kids to these things.

The next update here will be some story stuffs that I’m working on, nothing too special I’m sure. Trying to string some things together that I’ve been writing at work and typing up on my phone.