Nov 23, 2008

A Day You Mustn't Miss!

November 23rd, 2004. Does the date ring a bell?

... well, it didn't with me, but then I'm no good with dates. Luckily, Blizzard is much more on top of things. :)

Happy 4th Birthday, World of Warcraft!

4th Anniversary - 112308

If you do nothing else to celebrate the anniversary of our glorious foray into Azeroth and Outlands, at least make sure that you take a second to log in. Just log in. Blizzard is giving us all an easy achievement and a wonderful little polar-bear pet.

Baby Blizzard Bear - 112308

I will love him and hug him and call him George!



Nov 13, 2008

Wrath Night - A Picturebook Story

Once upon a time... a brave druid answered the call to fight Evil...

Wrath Night - Lined up

Joined by dozens of friends ... er... acquaint--... er... okay, dozens of total strangers, he waited for the sun to set and the boat to arrive that would carry him to ever-greater glory.

Wrath Night - Kan haz Boat

And arrive it did...

Wrath Night - First Boat

With visions of daring do and swooning damsels in distress dancing in his head, he faced forward as the majestic Kraken crested her first waves.

Wrath Night - First Boat Ever

(He rather thought maybe that Joebaahb fellow was on the wrong ship, just for the record... )Wrath Night - To Northrend

... and then...

POOF!

Wrath Night - Lolz false alarm

...

Yeah. Achem.

Once upon a time, a brave druid who had logged out and back in answered the call to fight Evil. Again.

Wrath Night - Lining up - take 2

The Kraken returned, inevitable as the tides, to whisk the eager adventurers to a new world...

Wrath Night - Boat 2

Her briney deck was full to bursting as she once again  set sail...

Wrath Night - BoatezBut fate (and maybe Blizzard) is cruel.

RE-POOF!

Wrath Night - OMGLOLZ

Rhese fought with despair, but the wisdom of friends and countrymen soon buoyed his flagging spirits...

Wrath Night - Blind Leading Blind

... more or less. He couldn't help but liken the moment to "the blind leading the blind."

... -_-

Still, ever a druid to harken to sage advice, our druidic hero proceeded to log, reboot, turn three circles, light some candles to the Wrath gods, and then wait the requisite short eternity for Kraken v. 3.0

Wrath Night - Tiger eatez

She arrived just in time.

... What? After all that waiting, tiger was hungry, okay?!

Wrath - 4th times the charm    Aligned against anything that would stand in their way, the heroes of Azeroth (finally) felt the stinging rain of Northrend... 

Valiance Keep - Borean Tundra... and faced the mighty walls of Valiance Keep.

Wrath Night - Valiance in Sight

And so, the brave druid who ventured to the frozen north (through many trials and tribulations) gained the first reward of many...

Discovered - Valiance Keep

The ... Beginning.

^_^



Nov 5, 2008

Public Service Announcement: Just Say NO!

Dear Khierra,

You don't know me, but I am a hat activist. I scour Azeroth for the Headgear that Should Never Be Seen. Wherever I findi t, I find a cause, and I am compelled to lobby long and hard against its use. Horrible hats are a blight on the eyeballs of Azerothians everywhere!

Yours, dear druid, is one of Them.

Please understand. I sympathize; I know the temptation that a stat-rich new headpiece offers. I spent my own period of weakness beneath the brim of a particularly rancid millinery confection. I don't blame you for the errors of your youth, but I do beg you to see the Light. I don't think I could bear to see another young adventurer fall to the same evil that has claimed so many, including a dear friend of mine.

Be strong, young sister. Hide your helm for the good of all Azeroth (and Outlands).

And remember...

Evil Hat!

With Best Intentions,
~Rhoelyn of Proudmoore



Nov 4, 2008

The Day the World (of Warcraft) Stood Still

election08

By R.A. Silverwing | Tuesday, November 4, 2008, 3:56 PM

Months of preparation. Billions of gold in campaign funds. Two thousand five hundred and ninety-three babies of all races kissed. At least three aides lost to tragic attempts to give friendly pats to hunter pets.

Yes, we've all been waiting with baited breath as our candidates made their speeches, took their stands, and brought forth their glorious plans for the future of Azeroth and the Outlands. We've all been watching the calendars count down to one short, historic day that will change our lives and determine the course of the next four years. A day that has finally come.

Welcome, Alliance and Horde alike, to Election Day 2008!

The Candidates: DeNUBlicans

saurfang4prez A celebrated war veteran, a household name, a seasoned and experienced politician - High Overlord Saurfang and his lovely (albeit previously relatively unknown) running mate, Captain Valindria of the Shattered Sun, have built a strong platform based on using productivity and extra beatings for peons and adventurers alike to rebuild our failing economy and revitalize a depressed national outlook.

Despite his advancing age, Saurfang's strength and prowess suggest that Azeroth (and the Outlands) will enjoy four years of firm leadership and a no-holds-barred aggressive front against the forces of chaos. High Overlord Saurfang believes that it is strategically and morally essential that we support the fledgling government of Shattrath until it is capable of governing itself and defending its people.

The Azeroth (and Outland) that Saurfang and Valindria envision is a powerful, independent environment that uses a balanced approach to care for the health and well-being of every citizen.

Except maybe the scummiest of the Alliance scum. Those guys can rot in jail until the day they wake up Forsaken.

Soundbytes of the Campaign:

  • Introduction for H.O. Saurfang at the DeNUBlican National Convention:

    "High Lord Saurfang can cleave Azeroth and hit Outland. He can execute his enemy at 100% health, just to save time. The Deeprun Tram was made when he charged at IF from SW.

    If he was a hunter, he'd tame Omen. If he was a warlock, he would enslave Kazzak. And if he decided to go to Outland, Nefarian would be his mount."

  • Saurfang's take on Illidan Stormrage, from an interview with Bobwa Waters:

    "Stupid nightelven kid. Thinks cuz he was locked away for a few thousand years, he gets to be all emo and go cut the world. Lemme tell you something, Bobwa. He doesn't know pain. He doesn't know fifty years in a prison camp where they tear out yer toenails cuz ya didn't stand up straight enough.

    Oh, yeah. I know pain. I eat it fer breakfast in the mornin', and then I give the extra helpins to my enemies with some left over for my butler, Chuck. That kid better stay off MY lawn, or I'll have to teach his tattooed butt just what pain really is. "

  • Valindria in discussions with the Kurenai vizier:

    "Oh, golly! We should go hunting merlocs, don'cha'know? I tell you what, there's nothing quite as invigorating as stalking a little rawgler across the beaches of Quel'Dee isle. It's peachy keen."

The Candidates: Evocrats

vargothrandomArchmage Marvin Vargoth is out to break the mold, and as the first Kirin'Tor to run for President, he's off to a great start! With his running mate, some guy that no one knows or cares about, he's spreading the fever for change, promising lower mana costs for all casters and a policy of tending to the needs closer to home as a first priority.

Young (relatively) and idealistic, many are heralding Vargoth as the firecracker force that this World needs to get back on its feet and make itself strong once more. He wants to close the gap between the 70s and the 30s, proposing sweeping XP tax changes that will take from the rich and give to the poor.

The Azeroth (and Outland) that Vargoth and that other guy envision is a place of peace and stability, one that is free from the squabbles of the day and prospering due to self-sufficiency, equality, and affordable polymorphs for all.

Soundbytes of the Campaign:

  • Vargoth at the Evocratic National Convention:

    "The land is in worse shape than I could've imagined. If the damage continues at this rate, then our world will be nothing but cosmic gravel very soon.

    Where will it stop, I wonder? Perhaps the better question is, 'will it stop?'"

  • That other guy, from an interview with Bobwa Waters:

    Bobwa: "Who are you, again?"
    JoeRandom: "... "

  • Ultarn the Warrior, citizen of Ironforge:

    "The only thing I know fer sure about that Vargoth fellow is that he wins battles. When my friends and I are facing a beating at the hands of Vashj or Kael, worn down and tired as we may be, we always have our ace ready. All he has to do is stand there and wave, do a bit of laughin', maybe, and we got all we need for our victory.

    Y'ask me, I'd rather have him not-fighting at my side than about a third of my raid members...* "

* Cough. Ultarn never said this. Shhhh.... artistic license!