Warlords of Draenor - Month 12

 

 

Gear & Raids:
McTacky - Item Level 721 (Ret)

Slowly earning the Valor to get my gear upgraded has pushed me up to 721 so far, still have many pieces to upgrade. I keep forgetting to do my daily heroic dungeon, if I did that I would be futher along.

Since last month I'm now 11/13 in Hellfire Citadel Heroic. I still need Tyrant Velhari and Xhul'horac. I completed Mythic Highmaul with the guild this week, which was relatively easy because of our item level.

Pets/Mounts/Toys:
I obtained Reins of the Grove Warden thanks to my guild.

Other than Crawling Claw, I have all the tradable pets. At 734 unique pets now. (McTacky's WarcraftPets profile).

I've been hunting down missing Toys in-game, once-per-day camping rares that drop the toy I need. I also had my rogue do some mass pickpocketing in Northrend trying to get some of the Dice toys, no luck. Doing the Alliance Garrison Campaign on my Warlock at the moment, which also rewards a toy.

Fishing/Archaeology:
Still grinding away at archaeology, 12 pristine artefacts left. Still no Pet or Mount from Tol'Vir.

Caught 10 lunkers this month from Fishing, far away from getting the Draenor version of the Water Strider Mount.

Thoughts
I don't feel burned out on World of Warcraft anymore. This phase of an expansion is always my favourite. The focus away from progression to completion is always my preference. I know you can't be a completionist without doing some progression, but I find it more fun. Which is what I need after the past few months of the dull & un-fun Hellfire Citadel Raid.

No grand insight to the past 12 months, just this was the expansion that give me lots of gold to buy the things I've always wanted. It was the expansion that had a lot of stuff with the Blood Knights and the Frostwolves in-game.

The inevitable WoD Bucket List

Dungeon Stuff to do:
● Glory of the Draenor Hero (6/23)
● Do the Mythic Dungeons (4/8)

Raid Stuff to do:
● Clear Heroic Highmaul (1/7)
● Clear Normal Blackrock Foundary (8/10)
● Clear Heroic Blackrock Foundary (9/10)
● Clear Heroic Hellfire Citadel (10/13)
● Glory of the Hellfire Raider (10/13)

Old Raid Stuff to do:
● Glory of the Pandaria Raider (20/31)
● Glory of the Thundering Raider (22/23)
● Glory of the Orgrimmar Raider (13/14)

Misc Stuff to do:
● 2 Songs - Nefarian (Blackwing Descent), Kel'Thuzad (Naxxramas)
● 2680/5000 Blackfang Claws
● Pristine Archaeology (19/39) - Draenor Clans (8/19), Ogre (7/10), Arakkoa (4/10)
● Nemesis Kills (2/7)

Old Misc Stuff to do:
● 1 Argent Tournament Mount
● Tol'vir Archaeology - Need the Pet & Mount.

Jewelcrafting Recipe Collection: 6 + 3
● 1 Rep (Aldor), 3 Raid (Sunwell), 1 Dungeon (Old Hillsbrad), 1 World Drop (Cataclysm), 3 Tanaan Jungle Recipies

Repost: Pilgrims Bounty Shopping List

Merry Pilgrims Bounty! This is a repost as nothing new in 2015. However in 2014 a toy and a battle pet (Frightened Bush Chicken & Silver-Plated Turkey Shooter) were added. The items are only obtainable from the seasonal daily quest reward bag Pilgrim's Bounty.

Daily Shopping List:
Simple Flour x20
Mild Spices x20
Honey x 100 (all seasonal vendors)
Autumnal Herbs x 60 (all seasonal vendors)
Wild Turkey x20 (kill and loot them outside Undercity in Trisfal Glades)
Ripe Tirisfal Pumpkin x20 (Undercity Seasonal Vendor)
Mulgore Sweet Potato x20 (Thunderbluff Seasonal Vendor)
Tangy Southfury Cranberries x20 (Orgrimmar Seasonal Vendor)

(If you want to skip the Wild Turkey dallies, you only need to buy Honeyx60 instead)

Also if you are doing the normal quests for Pilgrim's Bounty for the first time, have 5 extra of Turkey, Pumpkin, Potato and Crandberry, but don't cook them until you have the quest for them since the quest will only credit you if you cook them while on the quest.

Because of the low drops rates per Pilgrim's Bounty I recommend doing them on all alts. Teaming up with a Mage will make traveling in-between Org-TB-UC faster.

Warlords of Draenor - Month 11

 

Gear & Raids:
McTacky - Item Level 708 (Ret)

Since month 9, I've cleared Hellfire Citadel on normal difficulty and done 8/13 on heroic with the guild (the guild has cleared all 13 without me however).

The only fun I've been having is with the people in the raid. I still find the instance itself frightfully dull and the atmosphere boring. The only fights that are interesting is the robot boss (Iron Reaver), the Bird Boss (Shadow-Lord Iskar).

Pets/Mounts/Toys:
Still using WarcraftPets.com profile to keep track of it all, and I am now at 731 unique pets.

Being able to collect Terky in-game was great. Still Blizzard still has no record of my Hunter having ever earned the Spirit of Competition so I still haven't been able to restore that.

1750/2000 Draenor Pet Battles now. Going to push thought at least another 50 levelling battles in the next couple of days since it is currently Pet Battle Weekend.

I just have one Argent Tournament mount left. 150 more tokens to go.

Fishing/Archaeology:
A few more Pristine Artefacts obtained. About half way now.

Thoughts
I've been 100% burned out on WOW the past few months. I never liked Hellfire Citadel and having a year more of it feels like a punishment. Grinding out the PVP achievements

In the past 3 months I've been playing more Diablo (Season 4) and the new StarCraft Expansion. Also in the beta for Overwatch. Non-blizzard has been City Skylines and some weeboo Vita games. I've come back to WoW more to keep levelling up my pets.

As for the Blizzcon announcements, I am happy that the expanded Transmogrify ability to choose items from old quests, even rewards you didn't choose. Which means I can Quel'Delar with 2 hander and 1 hander from the A Victory For The Sunreavers quest. That is exactly what my new Ashbringer next expansion will be transformed into the moment I obtain it.

Blizcon's Warcraft cinematic trailers were good looking. I avoid looking at the actual new content that is in the expansion, I don't want to spoil myself for the stuff when it comes out.

Warlords of Draenor - Month 9

Gear & Raids:
McTacky - Item Level 701 (Ret)

With the patch, the Guild's Casual Raid Group is running again on Sunday Nights. We have killed the first 7 of 13 boss in Hellfire Citadel on normal difficulty. Half the fights more annoying than fun.

PvP
Tried some Ashran since the patch changes, barely made any progress with my Dwarf kills. Is much slower going.

Pets/Mounts/Toys:
Big purchase of Reins of the Grand Expedition Yak this month wiped out my in-game savings.

Fishing/Archaeology:
No Fishing this month, still have the mount left to obtain. Archaeology on hold until flying patch.

Thoughts
Starting to feel burn out. Finished the new things for Patch 6.2, haven't visited Tanaan in a while. Been doing some of the questing on alts that missed out on questing once they hit 100.

In my rush to experience the new content, I got though it all too quickly.

McTacky vs the Silver Hand

McTacky had spent the past few months since being removed from command of his garrison (for embezzlement buying pets) doing objectives in Tanaan.

"Do you want to lead the Silver Hand?" asked Lady Liadrin, Matriarch of the Blood Knight order. McTacky's boss.

"No," said Master Blood Knight McTacky, "I'd never join the Silver Hand!"

"What about this photo?" asked Lady Liadrin?

"That is you in a the Silver Hand Tabard," added Lady Liadrin.

"That.... is a fake!" lied McTacky.

"You'll get to use the Ashbringer," added Lady Liadrin.

"I prefer the Quel'Delar," said McTacky.

"Well I use the Quel'Delar, not you," said Lady Liadrin.

"But I am holding a Quel'Delar as well," said McTacky.

"That is the Quel'Delar, Lens of the Mind, I have the Lore Quel'Delar," said Lady Liadrin.





"But Archmage Aethas Sunreaver told everyone I was the bearer of Quel'Delar," said McTacky.

"I think you are remembering incorrectly," said Lady Liadrin.

Warlords of Draenor - Month 8

Garrisons:
Level 3 Garrisons - Paladin, Warrior, Hunter, Shaman, Priest, Mage, Druid, Death Knight, Alliance Warlock, Rogue

Rogue hit max level with Pet Battles just before the patch hit. Shipyards have been largely annoying, but the hotfix to add a Shipyard mission table inside the townhall at level 3 shipyards helps a little, but the system feels half-baked.

Gear & Raids:
McTacky - Item Level 694/684 (Ret/Holy)

With the patch, the Guild's Casual Raid Group is running again on Sunday Nights. We have killed the first 7 of 13 boss in Hellfire Citadel on normal difficulty. Half the fights more annoying than fun.

PvP
Tried some Ashran since the patch changes, barely made any progress with my Dwarf kills. Is much slower going.

Pets/Mounts/Toys:
I have collected a heap of new pets from the patch and converted them all to rare. Obtained many toys and mounts that a new from the patch. At 1100/2000 Draenor Pet battles now for pet Monument.

Fishing/Archaeology:
Fished up 60 of the new Felmouth Frenzy Lunkers (mostly at Thundertail Wallow) and was able to obtained the two pets from Pat Nagle. I plan to fish some more for more items off him. Still no archaeology this month, but plan to do it more once flying is patched in (I have the achievement that unlocks it).

Thoughts
For the past month I have been enjoying Patch 6.2. I am now exalted with ore of the Awakened, Saberstalkers and Vol'jin Headhunters, so I have no need to do the dailies anymore. I have unlocked everything for flying, so once it is patched in all my toons can fly in Draenor.

I have enjoyed Timeless Isle 2.0 and grouping up with guildies for objectives and rares. The Timewalking Weekends have been especially enjoyable. Felt no compulsion to even try ti Arena Skirmish weekend event.

The problem now is that I have completed all the objectives of Tanaan, so I am back where I was before the patch. Probably giving me time to get the last mounts from Argent Tournament & continuing to level my Pets.

Warlords of Draenor - Month 7

 

Garrisons:
Level 3 Garrisons - Paladin, Warrior, Hunter, Shaman, Priest, Mage, Druid, Death Knight, Alliance Warlock
Level 2 Garrisons - Rogue
(Monk is still level 80 for Herald of the Titans)

Levelled up my Druid with quests and levelled my Death Knight with pet battles. Now levelling my Rogue with Pet Battles.

Gear & Raids:
McTacky - Item Level 687/673 (Ret/Holy)

I have cleared Blackrock Foundry except for Blackhand on Heroic with the guild. I now have a full set of Heroic Tier items, including four tier items. Raids are on hiatus until the patch next week.

PvP
Done a bunch of Ashran. Finished with Humans and Nelf. Working on Dwarf now. I have been told I should have done less Pet Battles and more PvP to get Ashran finished before the patch hits, because there will be no more pre-made Ashran groups!

Pets/Mounts/Toys:
I have converted all 682 of my pets to Rare Quality. Currently levelling up the lower level ones with pet battles on toons I am levelling and using Pet Tokens to level up higher levelled ones to 25. I made a WarcraftPets.com profile to keep track.

Fishing/Archaeology:
No archaeology this month, but plan to do it more once I have flying unlocked.

Thoughts
Patch 6.2 lands next week. The Q&A explained that alt garrisons will earn less gold after the patch so this will greatly impact me, since this was my source of gold the past few months.

Patch 6.1 updated the Belf Character models, added the heirloom tab, added Blackrock Foundry and Darkmoon Faire races. All good things that I enjoyed.

3 out of 5 Phoenix

 

McTacky's Budget Blowout

"Lady Liadrin, you summoned me," said Master Blood Knight McTacky, "is this about how I defeated Blackhand?"

"You only accomplished that in LFR, it doesn't count," said Lady Liadrin, Matriarch of the Blood Knight order. McTacky's boss.

"I killed Imperator Mar'gok in Normal..." mumbled McTacky.

"I have been busy laying siege to Shattrath, and you were given command of the Frostwall Garrison," said Liadrin.

"Yes, Lady Liadrin," said McTacky.

"But I have had worrying reports of misuse of garrison funds," said Liadrin, "the garrison generates 5000 gold weekly but none of this money makes it towards the war-effort."

"That is strange," said McTacky.

"I have the Crimson and Azure Whelping you ordered," said the Ethereal Soul-Trader, appearing out of nowhere, handing McTacky two bird cages containing tiny dragons.

"Oh, thanks," said McTacky, carefully.

The Ethereal Soul-Trader then left.

"I must get back to Frostfire Ridge, Lady Liadrin," said McTacky.

"Of course," said Liadrin, "but you won't be heading back to your garrison..."

----------------

Camping in the snow for a month as a punishment.

"Great," said McTacky sarcastically as the Frostwolves howled in the distance.

And it was snowing as well.

Warlords of Draenor - Month 6

 

Garrisons:
Level 3 Garrisons - Paladin, Warrior, Hunter, Shaman, Priest, Mage, Alliance Warlock
Level 2 Garrisons - Druid, Death Knight, Rogue
(Monk is still level 80 for Herald of the Titans)

Levelled up my Alliance Warlock with Luxy and Crooked. I though the Shadowmoon Valley questing was solid, but felt like a more traditional Warcraft zone; visit established town, help with a quest, move on. Frostfire felt we really were expanding the Frostwolf holdings in the zone. I liked the mystery plot in Shadowmoon Valley as well as the logistic storyline in trying to establish trade and supplies for the garrison.

Gear & Raids:
McTacky - Item Level 679/663 (Ret/Holy)

Finished off my legendary ring quest. so I am done with LFR for a while. Still running 'Normal Blackrock Foundry' with the guild on Sunday nights.

Pets/Mounts/Toys:
Been on a spending spree this month in AH buy pets I'd always wanted with my new-found wealth of embezzled Garrison Funds from my alts (e.g Captured Firefly, Parrot Cage (Hyacinth Macaw) ). Made the Gnomish Engineering Toys on my Alliance Warlock. Mount-wise I purchased a Vial of the Sands off the Auction House!

Trade Skills/Fishing/Archaeology:
All trade skills maxed out done now. No fishing this month. No archaeology this month.

Thoughts
Patch 6.2 will be soon and there is plenty of news leaking out about it now. Word so far that there won't be any flying in patch 6.2.. I am used to the lack of flying and only miss it for Archaeology and the World Pet battles.

The first 6 months of WoD have been very different to the first six months of Pandaria. A regular day at the moment is deploy your followers to do their quests and swap alts and repeat until all the followers are out. Then do the garrison pet fight on all my max-level followers. This usually takes 90 minutes (less time if the pet fight is a quick one). With this done I leave the garrison for the task I have decided for that day - level/quest on an alt, grind a rep, work on an achievement. I plan to start working on the Barn or Draenor Fishing Currency this week, haven't decided which yet.

Back in the first 6 months of Pandaria (25th September 2012 - 25 March 2013) Only McTacky was level capped, none of my alts had left the Farm. I'd only done half the dungeons and hadn't even gone into LFR. I got burnt out on the game and I stopped playing entirely in December to February, except to log in for world events.

WoD has been a much slower burn, far less dallies. The Garrsion Mission Table is more like a Facebook game instead of a Daily Quest/Rep Grind that Pandaria relied upon for retention.

I feel like I have so much left to do and the patch coming soon feels like a hassle to me.

Warlords of Draenor - Month 5

 

Garrisons:
Level 3 Garrisons - Paladin, Warrior, Hunter, Shaman, Priest, Mage,
Level 2 Garrisons - Druid, Death Knight, Rogue
Level 1 Garrisons - Alliance Warlock
(Monk is still level 80 for Herald of the Titans)

I levelled my Mage up without using the /castsequence macros like I had with the Priest and Shaman. Unlocked Harrison Jones (with Treasure Hunter trait) and have recruited a whole heap of other Treasure Hunters.

Gear & Raids:
McTacky - Item Level 670/661 (Ret/Holy)

I have started running 'LFR Blackrock Foundry' with one of Xyn's alts in Friday Nights. Still running 'Normal Blackrock Foundry' with the guild on Sunday nights. Making progress on the Legendary Ring quest because of all this.

Pets/Mounts/Toys:
Finished off Raiding with Leashes III: Drinkin' From the Sunwell achievement. Purchased a Mechano-hog off the Auction House!

Trade Skills/Fishing/Archaeology:
All trade skills maxed out done now. No fishing this month. No archaeology this month.

Thoughts
I am still having run with patch 6.1. Less mindless fun this month and more focused on specific things at a time.

McTacky Saves Noblegarden (Part 4 of 4)

Early in the morning, Master Blood Knight McTacky was waiting for his followers to wake up. Finally Aeda Brightdawn, Vivianne, Shadow Hunter Rala and Olin Umberhide leave the Frostwall Barracks.

"What is all this?" asked Vivianne, seeing McTacky's eggy handywork.

"Noblegarden!" said McTacky, proudly.

The four followers exchange a look.

"Mon, you really thunk we be impress with this?" asked Shadow Hunter Rala.

"We're not children, commander!" pointed  out Aeda Brightdawn.

"Nevermind! It is our day off Commander, we don't have to put up with your pointlessness this time," said Olin Umberhide.

"Half-day!" reminded called out McTacky.

The group ignored and walked away up to the hill towards the Garrison flight master, Bron Skyhorn.

Harrison Jones however appeared to be having fun hunting eggs, dragging along all the new Treasure Hunter recruits as his 'assistants'.

"Watch out kid! You almost stepped on an egg!" said Harrison Jones.

"Sorry Doctor Jones," said the recruit.

"You always have to watch where you are stepping. You could step on the letter J and almost fall down a bottomless bit," said Harrison Jones, using his archaeology brush on the egg before picking it up. He was clearly taking the egg hunt way too seriously.

But they appeared to be enjoying themselves.

"So, what treasures did you end up putting inside?" quietly asked Senior Sergeant Atain the Orc Blacksmith to McTacky.

"Some money and a bunch of Balanced Weapon Enhancement and Braced Armor Enhancement," said McTacky.

"Gear upgrades, that is generous," said Atain, "it looks like Noblegarden a success."

Atain picked an egg off the ground and took a bite off the top before McTacky could stop him.

"Uh, how does it taste?" said McTacky, worried about the Lead Ore, Nitroglycerin, Sodium Nitrate and Time Magic used to accelerate the cooking process of the chocolate.

"Strange. Raw and spicy?" said Atain, confused.

"It is a delicacy," lied McTacky.

"Delicacy? You went all out for Noblegarden! I misjudged you, Commander" said Atain, taking another bite of the chocolate.

Atain burped and a jet of fire came out of his mouth.

"I really have to get going. Busy. Things to do..." said McTacky, backing off as a look of realisation crossed Atain's face.

"Where are you going, Commander. You haven't had any chocolate yet!" said Atain, advancing on McTacky with a cruel savage smile on his face.

"I have to pass. I'm not particularly hungry," said McTacky, stepping backwards from the hulking Orc Warrior.

"I must insist, Commander! It would be rude to refuse!" insisted Atain.

Terror entered McTacky's eyes as he was forced to bite into the chocolate.

"I must go now," said McTacky, if he hurried he could make it to the out-house in time.

"The whole egg!" insisted Atain.

McTacky gulped in fear, accidently swallowing the first bit of chocolate that had been in this throat. Already he could feel his stomach burning up.

"Really?" asked McTacky.

"I really insist," said Atain.


(((Hours and One Whole Chocolate Egg Later...)))
"We're back, half-day like you said, Commander," said Vivianne.

McTacky sat dazed inside the Town Hall.

"No new orders?" asked Aeda Brightdawn.

"Uhhhhhhhhhhhhh," groaned McTacky, eyes glazed over.

"Mon, you look like you need a half-day," asked Shadow Hunter Rala.

"Nevermind. We'll just take the rest of the day off. See you tomorrow," said Vivianne.

"Merry Noblegarden, Commander" said Olin Umberhide, as the group he left.

McTacky Saves Noblegarden (Part 3 of 4)

Master Blood Knight Aloysius McTacky had put "treasures" in the "chocolate" eggs and wrapped them. Now he had to place them around Frostwall Garrison.

 

 

 "I can't hide the egg here on the snow! It really stands out!" said McTacky to himself.

In fact if McTacky hadn't painted the eggs at all they would be very easy to hide in the snow.

 

"The path isn't much better. I painted it too well." said McTacky to himself.

 

Hiding eggs was hard. He would have to pit them in shadows and behind things for there to be any challenge.

 

Noblegarden Challenge: How many eggs in this image?

McTacky Saves Noblegarden (Part 2 of 4)

(((External Establishing Shot: Frostwall Garrison Tavern at night.)))

Master Blood Knight Aloysius McTacky, Commander of the Frostwall Garrison, sat inside the tavern, Loupe in his eye as he carefully painted an egg.

"It is late, I need sleep!" complained the Bartender. It was the dead of night and McTacky was keeping him up.

McTacky paused painting the egg and looked up at the Bartender.

"I need space to work and the Jewelcrafting Workshop is out in the cold," pointed out McTacky.

McTacky, satisfied he answered the bartender's question, went back to painting.

"Why not just go downstairs to the kitchen then?" asked the Bartender.

Interrupted, McTacky paused painting and looked up again.

"I can't work down here. No room left. I have Gorok processing my stockpile of Cocoa Beans into Chocolate," said McTacky, "good thing they stack to 200 bags."

McTacky tried to resume painting, but the Bartender kept talking.

"But the process of Fermentation, Drying, Winnowing, Roasting, Grinding, and Pressing beans into chocolate can take over 2 weeks, you only have a night," said the Bartender.

Irritated, McTacky slammed down his Paint Soaked Brush and took out his Loupe his eyes, and glared at the Bartender.

 

 

"Which one of us has a cooking skill of 700?" asked McTacky.

"You..." said the Bartender.

 

"Which one of us has a cooking skill of 6?" asked McTacky.

"Me...." said the Bartender.

"I think I know more about making chocolate than you do," insisted McTacky smugly.

"As a Illustrious Bartender, I know something about Fermentation. You can't do it overnight," said the Bartender.

"Sure you can. You just have to have the right recipe," said McTacky.

The Bartender looked worried.

"What did you add to the Cocoa Beans?" asked the Bartender.

"Nothing that bad," said McTacky, "just a little bit of Lead Ore..."

"LEAD!?" demanded the Bartender.

"Not much. Not much. The lead content is within acceptable safety limits..." defended McTacky.

McTacky got back to painting the eggs, but he messed up a line when the room shook from an explosion from downstairs.

"What was that?" the Bartender.

"The Nitroglycerin and Sodium Nitrate I guess," shrugged McTacky, "that Orc Chef, Gorok, really has to be more careful, I am trying to concentrate here."

"Are you insane!?" demanded the Bartender.

"700 cooking skill. 6 cooking skill," reminded McTacky at the Bartender, fixing his mistake he made on the egg with some more paint.

"It still won't work," said the Bartender, "you don't have enough time, even with the dangerous ingredients."

"That gives me an idea. Go downstairs and cast Time Warp on the chocolate over and over. And hurry Bartender, every second counts" said McTacky, off in his own world, painting eggs with the care he would cut gems.

"I have a name," grumbled the Bartender, heading downstairs of the tavern. It was going to be a long night.

McTacky Saves Noblegarden (Part 1 of 4)

Master Blood Knight Aloysius McTacky stood over the Mission Table in Frostwall Garrison. A group of followers, Aeda Brightdawn, Vivianne, Shadow Hunter Rala and Olin Umberhide enter.

"I have a new missions for each of you, it will take 24 hours," said McTacky.

"It is Noblegarden tomorrow, we were wanting time off, Commander," said Aeda Brightdawn.

"Noblegarden? Bah Humbug!" said McTacky, "these are critical missions!"

"Critical? It is for 'extra experience' again, isn't it?" asked Vivianne, sceptically.

"No!" lied McTacky.

Vivianne's lifeless eyes peered into McTacky's soul.

"Maybe," said McTacky.

The gaze from the Forsaken Mage pieced McTacky's mind. It burned!

"Of course it is!" admitted McTacky, breaking under the pressure.

The four followers groaned.

"That is all we ever do!" said Aeda, "it is pointless! The four of us are already skill capped."

"Only the new followers get to do the +gold missions with their Treasure Hunter trait." defended McTacky.

"We want Noblegarden off!" said Rala.

"You are not getting a week off!" insisted McTacky, "this planet doesn't even celebrate Noblegarden! It isn't even spring here!"

"A day!" said Olin.

"A half-day! You get a half day for Noblegarden tomorrow," said McTacky firmly. He was the Commander of this Garrison and by the light, he was going to have a smidgen of respect around here.

The group of followers grumbled as they left the great hall. McTacky crossed his arms, irritated. He needed those Big Crate of Salvage for items inside to level up his new gold-finding followers. This half-day would delay plans.

 

That night was another cold night. It still felt like winter, far from the spring weather Silvermoon was now experiencing far away. McTacky rosed from his sleep by a noise outside..

Aloysius McTacky sat up in his bed. The sound was like a chain dragging across the ground.

"Who is there?" demanded McTacky, bellowing out into the dark.

"The Ghost of Noblegarden Past," lied Atain, Orc Warrior, Blacksmith, & Drudge. He was moving supplies from the forge across to the pile outside the great hall.

"Can you do your blacksmith-whatever more quietly, I am trying to sleep," said McTacky.

"Asleep already? You must have worked fast," said Atain.

"What do you mean?" asked McTacky.

"It is traditional for nobles and lords to hide coins (and sometimes treasure) inside painted chocolate eggs," said Atain.

"So?" asked McTacky, getting impatient.

"You are the Commander of this Garrison. So it is up to you to do that!" said Atain, rolling his eyes.

McTacky realised in horror that the Orc was right, he had to save Noblegarden!

Déjà vu! Wait... he's not even in supposed Silvermoon this time!

Obligatory New Characters Model Post

McTacky from November 29th 2014 on the left.
McTacky from Today on the right.

 

First I notice is that the belt buckle and tabard logo are less squashed horizontally. Also the shoulder armour fits a lot better. The boots don't have that bugged brim at the top. Not seen here but Capes work better.

The only problem is that the belt is still too thin to hide all the entire tabard gap.

 

Left: Old. Right: New

 

Obviously the face has more detail and definition. The hair and eyes are far enchaned as well. But there is also geometry differences, the face is more filled in, and with two prominent nasolabial fold clearly seen.

 

Combine the shoulder armour fitting, the filled in face and the nasolabial folds, it overall makes McTacky look like gotten older and more mature.

Warlords of Draenor - Month 4

 

Garrisons:
Level 3 Garrisons - Paladin, Warrior, Hunter, Shaman, Priest
Level 2 Garrisons - Mage, Druid, Death Knight
Level 1 Garrisons - Rogue, Alliance Warlock
(Monk is still level 80 for Herald of the Titans)

Patch 6.1 added the new heirloom system, making it easy to level up my Priest and Shaman. Also used a castsequence macros on both of them along with a X-Box controller so I can sit back and relax.

Slowly replacing my followers with Treasure Hunter trait. Half way to unlocking Harrison Jones.

Gear:
McTacky - Item Level 666/660 (Ret/Holy)

Lots of new good gear from Blackrock Foundry.

Dungeons/Raids/Proving Grounds:
I did all the 5 mans heroically. Blackrock Foundry is scary but I am making progress inside with guild group. Haven't done any LFR. Haven't touched proving grounds in months.

Pets/Mounts/Toys:
Working on the new pets in the Raiding with Leashes III: Drinkin' From the Sunwell achievement. Heaps of music sheets for the garrison. Lost of things to collect. Of special note is the S.E.L.F.I.E. Camera MkII!

Trade Skills/Fishing/Archaeology:
All trade skills maxxed out done now. No fishing this month. Finished all the normal category archaeology finds, only Pristines left to collect.

Thoughts
I've had lots of fun with patch 6.1.

Liebster Award 2 - Liebster Harder

Navimie has chain lettered me with the Liebster Awards Q&A, AGAIN! I did one a year ago. The full rule-set is over on Wording Well. Basically she gave me 11 questions to answer.


1. Who is your favourite villain and why?
I really prefer Smart Villains over Sympathetic Villains. Sympathetic Villains can either be non-monstrous with just different goals, or monstrous with an excuse motive.

Warcraft has rarely had smart villains. The Burning Legion who see spreading evil as their life purpose and their method is just temping people with power. Grom in WC3 drank the Demon Blood to get power to defeat an enemy. Kael'Thas joined up with the Legion to feed his people's Magic Addiction.

But I think there is one exception. Ner'zhul as the Lich King. He manipulated the Burning Legion, Arthas, and Ilidan in a big plan to be freed (only to be killed off at the end of a novel so the Lich King would only be Arthas in the WoW expansion, bleh). I find a smart villain is far more compelling than a simple sympathetic villain.

2. What sport do you wish you were really good at?

Blitzball. You get to play Blitzball in FFX and manage a Blitzball team in FFX-2.

It is a 6 v 6 sport where you have to get a ball into a sport. The positions are two Forwards, a Midfielder, two defenders and a Goalkeeper. It is two halves of 5 minutes. Inside an underwater Sphere.

3. Tell me who is your favourite Disney character and why.

Mickey Mouse, he has been my favourite from childhood. I have a Mickey Mouse Phone and had a Mickey Mouse Watch.

I can't explain why. He isn't a complex character or that interesting. I think it is from growing up watching the old Mickey Mouse shorts. I had hours of them taped on VHS which I would just watch over and over.




4. If you were granted one wish of anything you wanted, what would you wish for?
I would compose a highly specific wish with no loop holes that would afford me some super-natural abilities.

5. What is the dumbest thing you have done in regards to your computer?

Knocked over my glass of water and had water pour into the inside of my machine! It was terrible!

A close second would be the time I installed one of those 'computer optimiser' things from the internet, not realising it was malicious software. Download only from safe websites people!

6. If you had the ability to go back in time, who would you want to meet and what would be the one burning question you would ask them?

I'd ask Geoffrey Chaucer how The Canterbury Tales was going to end (beyond the group actually getting to Canterbury).






7. You have won a Nobel Prize!  What do you wish you won the prize for?

For successfully eliminating all the land mines on the planet. I know people can argue they have a use in various DMZ around the planet, but I would like them all gone anyways.

8. Which would be more devastating - loss of hearing, loss of vision or loss of both hands?

For this answer I will be ignoring biotic technologies that exist or being developed to cope with these things.

Loss of Hands would be the worst of the three. Loss of hearing would make be lose music, unable to use telephones/voice chat and have to watch everything with subtitles. Loss of vision would be devastating and destroy my quality of life, but loss of hands would mean I couldn't interact with the world at all.

9. In World of Warcraft, who would you like to see as a boss encounter one day, and how would you design that fight?

Magatha Grimtotem, leader of the Grimtotem Clan. She is a powerful Shaman but also insidious and manipulative. So in her boss encounter, it wouldn't be a stand-up fight. You will have to out-smart her to win.

Mechanically out-smarting her won't work if you can just look up the fight online, so lets pretend you can't for this one. The alternative is an adaptive AI that I think is beyond the game-engine. So basically this is a gimmick fight.

Pre-Fight Evil - Your Raid Group is across the room from her, drinking potions, listening to strategies, buffing up. Then ka-blam, a group of Grimtotem Rogues backstab from stealth the whole raid dead if you don't start the fight after 5 minutes. Her eyesight may be bad, but she can see a group of hostile people from across a room!

The Fight of Evil - Magatha is a powerful shaman but you saw what Thrall can do when he cheats at a duel in Nagrand, well Magatha is an expert cheat:

-Your DPS and Tanks rush in to attack her, but you find that all your attacks are healing her! Ooops, she cast a shaman spell on your weapons that make them heal not hurt her.
- Is that a healing circle on the ground? No it is a Poison circle Magatha placed that looks exactly like a player's healing circle!
- Some blocks of stone at the back of the room have been marked by a  Skull, so that means they have to be attacked, right, must be a source of Shaman powers? Nope, they are just rocks that Magatha just tricked you into attacking by marking them with a Skull!
- The group of people standing around Magatha just ran away, they must know something you don't know about this fight, better run away too? Nope, you just got played for being a sheep, it was just illusions.

Why all this deception? She is stalling for time, because once 5 minutes is up, those Grimtotem Rogues will still backstab from stealth the whole raid dead.

How do you win? Negate all her tricks and then fight down the powerful shaman? No! You win by playing her game better than her! Have the raid wait outside her room. Have a Rogue stealth, walk into the room, walk up behind her and do a backstab. It will one shot her.

10. What is the most embarrassing thing you've said to someone you wanted to impress?

This was hard to answer. While I occasionally do say some truly idiotic things, I haven't been trying to impress the person at the time. So to compensate, I'll just list some stupid things I have said:
- Asked an Islamic Person if they get Gautama Buddha's Birthday as a holiday.
- Asked a teacher if they could 'enhance' a photo (make it less pixelated) to make it look better for the yearbook.
- Asked a girl if she was a boy because she had short hair, but in a girl's school uniform.
(I repeat for all of these, I wasn't being mean, I honestly was just that oblivious),

11. You've been chosen to go onto a game show!  Which game show would you go on?

A*mazing! One part Mario Kart, one part maze, one part typing something on a giant qwerty keyboard. 100% what I would want out of a gameshow!

Now to provide 11 random facts about yourself. I'll give you 11 different facts from last time.

1 - I keep forgetting what my bloodtype is. (It is A+)
2 - I was a guest on the Twisted Nether Blogcast Episode 234.
3 - I never beat Warcraft 3 legitimately, I used cheat codes.
4 - I have obtained all the Disney Infinity figures and levelled them all to the level cap.
5 - Star Trek series in order I like them (most to least):  DS9, TNG, VGR, TOS, ENT
6 - Babylon 5 seasons in order I like them (most to least): 3, 4, 2, 1, 5
7 - I love to read books, but I haven't read one in a year (last book I read was Raising Steam by Terry Pratchett)
8 - Favourite Pokémon: Pikachu (sorry for cliché answer, but it is true!)
9 - I came out of The Last Airbender (film) actually liking it, to the warranted disgust of my brother.
10 - I have used winzip since 1999 and have never purchased the full edition. Sorry Corel Corporation.
11 - I have recently been playing World of Warcraft with an X-Box controller. I can't heal with a controller, but I can DPS effectively if I have some castsequence macros set up.

Questions for others:
1: What tradeskill would you like added to WoW?
2: Is Pie or Cake the best?
3: What building type would you like added to the garrison? What would it do at each level?
4: Someone is rude in a LFR, what do you do?
5: What is the best in-game class specific faction (Silver Hand, Burning Blade, Elven Rangers ect)?
6: Why do you like your favourite class?
7: Hammock or Water Bed?
8: If you had to voice act for a NPC in the game, which one would it be?
9: Voice chat or Typing? What is easier for you?
10: What ride would you add to darkmoon faire? Would there be quests for it?
11:  What is more important in a WoW quest, the story or the game mechanics?

Stealing Arelion's idea, I'm not nominating anyone. You can just answer these questions in the comments.

Outstanding Pre-WoD Tasks

While I am still enjoying Warlords of Draenor, there are still a few things from before Draenor that I still must do:

Argent Tournament
2 more Argent Tournament Mounts (300 Tokens)
The Argent Tournament Music Sheet and the Argent Tournament Flags becoming Toys hindered this task which I have put very little time into.

Archaeology
Tol'vir Archaeology - Need the Pet & Mount.
As usual I have been doing archaeology in Draenor and using the completed artefacts to purchase Tol'vir Archaeology Fragments. But in 6.1 you can buy missions using 5 completed artefacts each. So it is affecting my progress in WoD.

Jewelcrafting
5 Jewelcrafting Recipes remain missing:
● 1 Rep (Aldor), 3 Raid (Sunwell), 1 Dungeon (Old Hillsbrad).

All of these recipes require an extensive grind which I haven't put any time into since WoD was released.

Reputations
Shado-Pan Assault is still only Revered. I have made some more progress into the rep during this expansion during achievement runs (gone from 8399 pre 6.0.2 to 16889 atm). Just over one more full clear will get me this reputation finished. (3960 per run just short of the 4111 rep I need!)

Celestial Tournament
While I have defeated the Celestial Tournament a few times, I have only purchased 2 of the pets yet. I have to keep doing the Celestial Tournament for a few more week to get the other 2 missing pets.

Pandaria Raid Achievements
Glory of the Pandaria Raider (14/31)
Glory of the Thundering Raider (19/23)
Glory of the Orgrimmar Raider (12/14)

I am very close with Thundering Raider & Orgrimmar Raider. Under half way with Pandaria Raider. Not much to say here, when there are guild groups going to these places, I always try to get an invite.

Herald of the Titans
I have my Monk stilling at level 80 in Dalaran at 210 item level. You want 226 Item Level for gear plus 232 weapon. Once the group is ready we can enter Uldum and nab this Feat of Strength.

Warlords of Draenor - Month 3

Garrisons:
Level 3 Garrisons - Paladin, Warrior, Hunter,
Level 2 Garrisons - Shaman, Priest, Mage, Druid, Death Knight
Level 1 Garrisons - Rogue, Alliance Warlock
(Monk is still level 80 for Herald of the Titans)

Gear:
McTacky - Item Level 650/645 (Ret/Holy)

Proving Grounds/Dungeons/Raids:
Still going with guild to Normal Highmaul each weekend. Still haven't killed Imperator Mar'gok yet. Patch 6.1 is just over a week, so new raid stuff then! Still haven't done all the 5-mans Heroically yet. Still no rank changes with proving grounds.

PvP:
Zilch PvP.

Professions:
All professions except Leatherworking, Skinning and Herbalism have been maxed out.

Pets/Mounts/Toys:
Got the new Midsummer Festival & Winter Veil toys. Mount from the Arakkoa Outcasts Exalted. Got Lumpy from Winter Veil at long last!

Fishing/Archaeology:
No fishing. Did a whole heap of archaeology and finished up the Ogre Category. Need to finish Orc and Arakkoa then start on the Pristines.

Thoughts
Most days I just log in to do my Garrison Missions and Trade Skills and then log out. I am slowly getting though the Garrison Campaign Missions and doing the Dungeon Quests from the Tavern.

Arakkoa Outcasts Exalted

 

 69th Exalted Faction is Arakkoa Outcasts

 

After the initial questing in Spires of Arak, the remainder of the Arakkoa Outcasts reputation was earned my garrison. On McTacky and my alts I did the The Bloodmane Scrolls garrison mission for Relic of Rukhmar (which give 2500 rep each). At last I hit exalted.

 

Not a thrilling story, but I am still grinding out the other WoD reputations.

 

Arakkoa Outcasts & Mangle of the Talon King 

Warlords of Draenor - Month 2

 

Garrisons:
Level 3 Garrisons - Paladin, Warrior, Hunter
Level 2 Garrisons - Mage, Priest, Druid, Shaman
Level 1 Garrisons - Death Knight, Rogue, Alliance Warlock
(Monk is still level 80 for Herald of the Titans)

Still using Broker Garrison to keep track of the garrisons and Master Plan to assign new missions. Got Garrison Architect and the Architect title.

Gear:
McTacky - Item Level 646/640 (Ret/Holy) after a few 645 items from Garrison missions & Normal Highmaul Drops. Got stage 1 of my Legendary Ring.

Proving Grounds/Dungeons/Raids:
Still going with guild to Normal Highmaul each weekend. Haven't killed Imperator Mar'gok yet. Still haven't done all the 5-mans Heroically yet. No rank changes with proving grounds.

PvP:
Zero PvP this month.

Professions:
Engineering, Blacksmithing, and Tailoring maxed out. Very close with Enchanting. Nearly there with Inscription. Making progress with Leatherworking.

Pets/Mounts/Toys:
No new pets, mounts or /toys.

Fishing/Archaeology:
No time spent on fishing or archaeology this month.

Thoughts
I was away over a week for my Brother's Wedding, but I got a lot done in the time I was around for. I am still enjoying Warlords of Draenor.

Loyality Quest - The Bartender

"Why don't we have Winterveil Decorations up?" asked Master Blood Knight Aloysius McTacky.

"I didn't pack any. I can't believe you convinced me to move from Silvermoon City and be a bartender here in the past mirror universe Draenor," said the Bartender.

"You see I did your Loyalty Quest, so you had no choice," explained McTacky.

"What is a Loyalty Quest?" asked the Bartender.

"A unique quest of personal importance for each squad member unlocks the character to be used in your garrison." said McTacky.

"What did you ever do to help me?" asked the Bartender.

"I helped you rank up! You went from Grand Bartender to Illustrious Bartender. I escorted you though the Stormstout Brewery to meet Gao Stormstout, remember?" asked McTacky.

"I never asked you to do that! You offered!" said the Bartender, "I never gave you a quest!"

"Well I completed the Loyalty Quest," smiled McTacky, "so now you are assigned to the tavern in my garrison in mirror universe Draenor in the past."

"You tricked me," said the Bartender, "I was never a quest giver."

"Don't complain," said McTacky, "You are doing what you would have been doing in Silvermoon, except here in the past in a mirror universe."

"Except I am not safe here!" exclaimed the Bartender, "What about that garrison invasion yesterday? They almost burnt down the tavern!"

"No it didn't," disagreed McTacky.

"Your friends Luxy and Crooked ended up saving me, not you!" said the Bartender.

"Oh, I was busy at the main gate," said McTacky.

"You didn't even notice I was in danger!" said the Bartender, "You are the worst!"

"I can't be the worst, I completed your Loyalty Quest," said McTacky.