State of the Union

Just a quick update to my current status as of last thing Monday night. I hit 58, so the Dark Portal is open to me now though I'm gonna keep running through Azeroth till I'm done with the quests I want to get done.

I'm 2/3 of the way to 59 and with a few quests left in Western Plaguelands, and a few complete quests still to hand in in places like Winterspring. So 60 is looking highly possible now, which hopefully should allow me to make 70 before the end of the year. Which means I can start gearing up in the New Year. Hopefully at that point everyone else in the guild will be ready to start raiding, and really I'll be playing catch up in terms of being well enough geared.

Right, that's enough for now.

The Build

So I thought I'd share my ideal finished build for Antaris with the world. Unfortunately though the old embedded talent calculator from Wowhead no longer works, so it's just gonna have to be a list :(


Divine Strength 5/5

Imp. Devotion Aura 5/5
Precision 3/3

Imp. Blessing of Might 5/5
Benediction 5/5
Imp. Judgement 2/2
Imp. Seal of the Crusader 3/3
Conviction 5/5
Seal of Command 1/1
Crusade 3/3
Two-Handed Weapon Spec 3/3
Sanctity Aura 1/1
Imp. Sanctity Aura 2/2
Vengeance 5/5
Sanctified Judgement 3/3
Sanctified Seals 3/3
Repentance 1/1
Fanaticism 5/5
Crusader Strike 1/1


http://www.wowhead.com/?talent=sxZxhZEf0t0cuiIot

Slow Progress

Well I haven't made my lightning level quota for the past week. Unfortunately work has got in the way, early starts and late finishes have just left me too tired to play. Don't know if this is gonna let up much until we reach the holidays, but I'm still hoping for 60 by the end of the week, though this may be a tough ask given the fact I'm gonna be out of commission totally for at least 2 days this week. But the aim is 70 by the end of the year, then gearing up and getting ready for instances and raiding, but that could take a while to get through. I'd be happy to be in a position to get going in February to be honest. Anyway watch this space for future developments.

Welcome to Antaris-Land!!!!!

What? Too many exclamations? :)

So how is the world turning for me now?

Mostly .... great, to be honest.

Ok, the guild was a waste of time, but then I was only in it a signature with no serious consideration of staying anyway, but it was like a competition to see how many noobs you can fit into one place. Or maybe to see if the world collapses in on itself if too many of them are put in the same place at the same time. To summarise, I've left, the fact I've put on 17 levels in the time it's taken the GM (A hunter) to put on 2. I'm not saying he's useless, but I could probably roll a hunter and level it to 70 before he gets there.

I've slightly altered my talent build, eliminating some things that are more PvP, and making allowances for the 2.3.2 changes. I'm enjoying the change for the most part, it's like a weird combination of rogue and mage in terms of control of abilities, and I think I'm still coming to grips with some of the abilities. It still makes me laugh when people group with me and start shouting at me to heal. "I've run out of bandages, guess again" :P Truth is I can heal okay, and weirdly I'd probably make a reasonable back up at 70 with an allowance for Spell Damage/Healing factored into gearing. I'm never gonna be a great healer, but I'll probably have enough to tip the scales in a fight. But, DPS is what I'm about. Am I totally comfortable with every little nuance of the Retadin. No, but I'm slowly getting there. Figuring out which Seals to Judge seems to be a very hit or miss affair, a lot of a Retadin's DPS comes from SoC and that can have a really weird proc rate. Some fights it doesn't happen, other fights it happens every hit. I'm happy with some of the scary crits I can already bang down, considering the rubbish gear I have. I've managed to push a double crit (melee and SoC) out to about 1.3k (450 & 850). That should slowly creep up as I get better and better gear.

So, the big question is, what am I trying to achieve here?

I guess I never really thought in terms of long term goals. I just wanted a break from the place I was at on Khadgar, where I was pretty much at the point of just leaving the game totally it had become that much of a chore. I needed to put "wind back into my sails" so to speak. To find a reason to play, and just enjoy the basics the game has to offer. I guess one thing that I'd forgotten and maybe Hellgate brought back was my competitive streak, the side of me that once played UT, Quake, CS and even Kingpin online in Clans. The part of me that still wants to feel the fire that PvP brings, while not necessarily going back to it. Hellgate wasn't PvP, but suddenly I had the adrenaline rush that's been gone for a while, it was just being pushed to the extremes and fighting your way back. Knowing that you could rely on everyone around you to do their job, so you could concentrate on yours. It's been a while since I felt that in Warcraft, of recent times it's been more a case of knowing what mistakes everyone will make so that you can make allowances.

So, I'm better than everyone else?

Hell, no. I make my fair share of mistakes. I'm not as good at my job as I'd like to be, and there are times, when I feel I've let myself down in instances. I try to adapt and learn though. Renvik and Morwena both changed builds to become more effective at what they do. It worked for the most part, but again it's not perfect. I just don't see that same level of drive in everyone. Maybe that's the hardcore gamer in me, playing to win, not playing purely for fun, and I guess we are all different. It all comes down to this one single immutable fact ...

You can only share a common vision, with people who see things the same way as you.

And so it begins .... again!!!

So the world turns and for the time being at least I feel a little bit of love for the game once more, so is it a cool uber epic, a new pattern or a really successful instance. No. It is in fact a complete re-roll. I looked at all the problems and heartache that Khadgar has brought me over the last few months, and decided it was probably better for everyone concerned if I just moved on, so I looked around, found a server that had a couple of people I knew from the days of DUTY and decided, sod it, why not.

It's almost cathartic, to have no-one there, for it to be completely silent all the time. I guess I never realised how much white noise I'd been creating around me. So I took a step in a very sideways direction. A class and spec combo I swore I'd never play, just to see if I can totally cast myself as the outsider. I guess if I'm gonna make it, it's gonna be the hard way.

So here ends the tale of Renvik (at least for now), and here begins the tale of ....

To watch as all things turn to ruin ...

Once again my ability to update the site does not seem to have changed. I seem to do anything to avoid it, which seems to be a recurring theme in my life really.

So what has changed?

Well, pretty much everything. The person that gave Warcraft more meaning to me has left the server on their main, so I guess that puts me another friend down. I've largely stopped enjoying the game, and to that end have left TDD. I don't know what it was, but I always felt kind of stifled, and like I couldn't really be myself there. Asides from the fact I can't agree with some of the decisions that have been made recently, the time it took to make a push to recruit tanks and healers after the problems we've had with them recently, the now weekly decision in Kara to miss out the Maiden because we don't seem to be able to do it and finally, but definitely the last nail in the coffin, bringing up the Black Roses again. Honestly, it was a guild that lasted a few months, and has not been a part of the lives of most of the guild. It's time to get over it!!!

For me, I've moved some characters on slightly, mostly because I'm waiting for 2.3 and it's speed levelling goodness. Grundir is finally in Outland at level 60, and now he's getting an opportunity to build up some rest. Silvena is now level 55, and burning her way towards Outland as well. Most of the rest are still around the level 40 bracket, and as soon as 2.3 hits, then it's full force to move everyone up to 60. The advantage of not having a guild is that you can just go and do whatever it is that matters to you, and at the moment that is more having some fun, rather than the Tier 4 fever that seems to have hit TDD. So I'll plod on and see what it is that keeps me amused in game. It was a revelation to me that I hadn't had any fun for a long time in game, and then I got an invite to a Sethekk Halls run, by two old friends, and suddenly it was a laugh. It wasn't a perfect run by any means, but it wasn't taken too seriously, and that light hearted play is what I miss.

So what of Ren and Morwena, well Ren is pretty much consigned to rep and money grinds, and Morwena, after all the work getting her gear together, has basically been boxed up and put in storage for the time being. Time to see what the world has to offer a serial-leveller. :)

Update of the Century!!!

It's been a while since I last updated here, because I've been super busy, well no not really, I've been super lazy to be honest.

So what's happened since I could last be bothered to write?

Renvik is now attuned to Karazhan, woohoo, Black Morass finally completed after about a billion tries, or at least it feels that way, and I've even been inside to have a look.

Morwena is now level 70 and has the first 2 fragments for her attunement, that's what we call being a glutton for punishment, "Get 1 character attuned for Karazhan? Not me. I want a whole army ready to go." Lol.

The others are fairing differently, Grundir is 56, and seems to be getting less inspiring every time I play him, I realise the importance of tanks, but bloody hell they are boring to play. Silvena is now 48, and well on her way to 49, so hopefully not much longer till I reach 50 and with it Vampiric Touch. Illiad has probably developed DVT from his lack of activity of recent times, but I will go back to him eventually. Edril is 33, and may stay there for a bit, a lot less inspiration to play him since I read an interview with Nihlium saying how non-Holy Paladins are "less than optimum" classes, and then saying that a resto-Shaman can out heal a Holy Pala anyway. A lot of the others have stayed at 30, with the exception of Orfeus, who has now moved onto 36. I'm starting to enjoy him, even though his weapon isn't great and is probably slowing down his progress, but I am loathe to buy anything else because I'll be switching to Dual Wield in a couple of levels and the two-hander will be relatively useless.

I've stalled on my side project, just not had the time to devote to it, or most importantly the willingness, especially given the fact I've started another one. A test bed character for something I should have tried ages ago, but have never bothered my arse with.

Well I think that's about it, don't know that my enthusiasm for the game has picked up, every time I look I rep grinds, I really believe I can't be arsed, but know they are probably the way to go. I shall see how I feel over the next short while, maybe it's time for a break, like until the guild gets another online tank and healer so we can do more than one instance at a time.

Over, and over, and over again!!!!!

Well it's been quite a while since I posted here, so much for keeping a track of my progress. I've moved on, even if ever so slightly. Morwena is now up to 66, Grundir iss 55, and everyone is at least 30, except my project.

Edril moved on to 33, don't ask me why I decided to level my Paladin, he still doesn't inspire me in any way shape or form. The project has gathered another 2 levels so is now a mighty 17. Next stop 18, then the world.

I've not had as much enthusiasm for the game recently, even given some moments of clarity, and finally completing Shadow Labyrinth. Gear wise I've finally picked up a piece of D3, but not that enthused, because it's actually not as good as what I have until it gets some gems or I get another piece of the set.

Onwards and Upwards

I seem to be making some decent progress on my characters, well everyone barring Renvik anyway.

Morwena has had a trawl round some of Outland now, and is now 61. Which isn't bad progress, especially considering it includes a complete run through Ramparts. So she is ready for Blood Furnace now. Hasn't been the lightning quick levelling of Renvik, but then it's no longer new, and rather than making things easier it appears to have kinda dulled my enthusiasm.

Grundir is stuck at 53 at the moment. I'm having trouble getting the motivation together to level him, he just isn't as fun as a lot of the other characters. Illiad has been left for a bit, but I will get back to him, truth is I know I can put in a little bit of time and get him up loads of levels. Edril is now at 30, and could well be there for some time. I still don't hugely like the Paladin, just seems a bit too much like a warrior with a couple of spells, so I got him to my target and he may be last on the list for going any further.

Orfeus, Derra and Vaeless have moved onto 26, and of course the goal here is to get them to 30 as soon as possible while continuing on with other characters. Once they are at 30 I will decide on one to run to 40, and just alternate through until they are all decent level.

My special project, has kinda stalled, Byz has decided to cut back her playing time which I full understand so I am now onto levelling the project alone. Could be a tough ask, but it's one I feel well capable of doing.

Last but not least, Silvena, I've kind of been inspired by two people who have been very important in my Warcraft life to level her. I was pretty mixed on the thought of a shadow priest, and after playing for a bit I still wasn't convinced, but a little bit of encouragement goes a long way. She is now 43, and after managing to solo Bangalesh I'm really starting to see the power there. Yes she needs to do more healing, and her damage isn't awesome yet but I believe when she gets access to Outland quality gear she will come into her own.

Anyway, now have a fixed idea of what I'm doing in terms of levelling so I'm all ready to rock and roll.

Woot-a-doodle-doo

Morwena was on a BRD run tonight, and while it was a lot slower and not as fine tuned as some runs I've been on it did the job in terms of getting quests finished, and on the second last hand in she dinged 58.

This may not seem like that much of an achievement, I mean 60 used to be the big level, but nowadays 58 and the Dark Portal are just as important in the evolution of a WoW character.

I guess I could have made things easier on myself with her, having gone Frost Spec from day 1 I really made things difficult for myself. Fire for levelling, Frost for End Game is the old adage. Well I've finally got there, and so my only guilded character is ready to make the journey through the portal.

We have a winner ...

in the new so bored I'd rather be having my teeth pulled competition.

Finally made 23 on Orfeus, this is probably the most painful a low level grind has ever been. I guess it doesn't help that I'm tired or the fact that because I chose to go back and catch up chains I've had to grind loads of grey quests and creatures. Hopefully this will let me make some quicker progress to 24.

Then it'll be back to Derra and then Edril probably. Still have the goal of all 30 by the end of the month, and Morwena to 60. Anything beyond that by the end of the month is a bonus.

And now for the news

Well finally got myself going on Silvena, which meant after having to log off early on Sunday due to overwhelming tiredness. I finally made the progress I was looking for and got from 38 to 40 today. It was a bit of a struggle in parts, mostly because of the drop rates. I never really had any issues doing the quests, except when I teamed up with a rather inept warrior, who couldn't hold aggro off me at all.

Got the skills for level 40 on Silvena, which cost a fortune, then logged onto Renvik and sent mount money to Silvena and Illiad. Normally my view on this is that each character should fend for itself on the money front, but I honestly can't be bothered walking everywhere anymore. So a Spotted Nightsaber for Silvena, not that it matters in Shadowform, and the Dark Striped Nightsaber for Illiad. Just to keep them different.

Next tasks are 60 on Morwena and then all my other alts up to 30, that could be a long battle, especially on my Paladin.

Slow Progress, but progress nonetheless

Today really hasn't been as quick a levelling day as I would have hoped, but then I did actually go have a life for part of it, and got to do help my mate Barin on an instance run. So I guess you can't have everything.

Wanted to try add some levels onto my lower level alts, but only actually managed to do it on my Druid Vaeless. I guess levelling is gonna slow done as the level increases, but still managed to get 2 levels and make 24. I also tried to get Orfeus into the quest progression I am using, but he is so far ahead of the curve on it from his time in Draenai Land, that he's doing most of the quests to get into their chains, and just to gain rep.

Started to work on Silvena's level as well, but again she is a long way ahead of where she should be, and so is taking quite a bit of time to level, still made it 80% of the way to 39, and so the mount grows ever closer. Which reminds me, need to send money to her and Illiad, get them both riding around, and that'll be 4 of my alts on mounts. Not bad if I say so myself :)

More guild offers today. I'm still trying to decide what I'm trying to achieve in game now. I seem to have lost my route to end game, and so I guess the focus becomes more on instances. So where do I go now? I guess this is something only time can tell.

And so it begins ...

This is as much a test of the blog as it is a start, but here goes anyway.

The last few days have actually returned to being progress days on characters I had almost forgotten. My Mage Morwena has moved on from being just into 55 all the way to being half way to 58, I haven't decided if that's the point she'll go to Outland yet, and I'm thinking maybe getting those last 2 levels in Azeroth, may keep me away from the annoyance of watching her die over and over again.

Gonna start movement on my Priest Silvena again, try and get her to the point of having a mount at least, so that's 2 levels to put on her, which could be slow even with her shadow build.

Been spending a lot of time levelling with my sister's characters which has been good, reminds me of levelling my main Renvik, and all the help he got from Euridike as he made he final dash for 60.