Monday, April 27, 2009

Ctrl Alt WoW Episode 112 - I'm Questing as Fast as I Can

Ctrl Alt WoW Episode 112 - I'm Questing as Fast as I Can

Aprillian, Glanthur and Ashayo discuss another week of playing World of Warcraft, Blizzard's great MMORPG. Contest Ongoing send an email to ctrlaltwow@gmail.com telling us how you play WoW, either as an altaholic or dealing with it in your family life to being placed in a drawing for a month free of WoW or a $10 iTunes Gift Card or an Authenticator, they are back in the store.

Special Guest Jeppy of http://tengnomes.blogspot.com/

What We've Been Doing:

Aprillian

Auruk is levelling fishing in Nagrand. He fished some crates, which I sent to a bank alt, who didn't have fishing, I ran the alt to the fishing trainer in Og, got him to level 10, he opened the crate and there's a Weather beaten Journal. He finally got the severed arm, but got crap out of the bag.

Epril got the dialy quest bug, couldn't get the JC dailyAuruk made some [Blackened Worg Steak] and gave it to Epril, so she had Humanoid tracking
Finally got the severed arm, this time got [Recipe: Captain Rumsey's Lager] some Deviate fish [Elixir of Water Walking] [Worthless Piece of White Glass] The rum makes you tipsy and increasing your fishing by 10 for 3 mins. While Auruk was fishing, Epril just killed random mobs in the area. And bank alts on other two accounts scanned AH.

Took The Twins and Auruk out to Borean Tundra. Really want to finish quests out there but "they keep pulling me back in", escorted some Alliance Desserters. While Tiiaa went from 1 to 280 in Engineering.

Got hearthed back to Dalaran from Scholomance when I logged in and by the time

Took Tiiaa to Badlands with the Twins and Auruk, the into Uldaman to complete the Mage quest there.

Auruk did the fishng daily on Thu morning and got [Weather-Beaten Fishing Hat]. Ended up taking Auruk and Elyte to

Friday Auruk and Elyte stayed in BT and grinded for Mammoth. Epril took Tiiaa the Belf Mage to ZF where she dinged 44.

Sat, same thing, got up did dailies, Went to BT on Auruk and Elyte. Ooh Both Epril and Auruk got the Achievement Simple Request

Sunday, Noblegarden started, got dailies out of the way. Auruk got the Sewer one, love that one.

Overheard in gchat, Anyone willing to lend me their egg spot? Got some eggs on Auruk and a level 21, including Tux pants and Elegant dress. But only want to do in bits in pieces, don't want to get burned out. Saw a Shadow Bunny, thought it was hilarious.

Current Dilemna, need Tiia, Mage to get to 50 to continue levelling Engineering, or I could kill off one of my Alliance DK's and start another Horde one? Hmmm. Also want my Rogue, currently 48 to level so she can open more boxes.

Ashayo

3.1.1. re-talent. again.
Hiide - survival
Forget to re-spec pet
Harder for pet to keep aggro

Argent Tournament
- Lance a lot
- Exalted with Horde Expedition.
- Defeat the champion, get Champion of Silvermoon City, Exalted Champion of Silvermoon City, Ashayo of Silvermoon
- Pet - Argent Gruntling ; looks like a child Shrek. Trumpets on summon.
- Get to choose to be a champion of another city - but only one.
- Opens more dailies - Kill 15 scourge, Boneguard Commander / Scout / Lieutenant ; MUCH easier in party
- Get to fight Black Knight. Pretty easy. Achievement - It's just a Flesh Wound
- Saily 3-man group quest
- Decided to do them on Asheal as well, as some is phased so she can't help
- Completed the 5 days of valiant for Thunder Bluff. [Champion of Thunderbluff]
- Quartermaster gear from Argent Tournament is awesome for people that don't raid. Another great equaliser.
- Bought 6 Commendation Badges with writs from daily quests and got Exalted with Thunder Bluff. Now Ashayo of Thunder Bluff

Other dailies
- Fishing on Ashayo and Asheal. - massive variation in value of rewards
when getting a choice of dailies, can do 2 days worth

Jekle & Hiide
- Dual box Nexus ; Hiide hits 76. Off to Scholozar Basin
- Completed Oracles chain to open dailies
- I love quest items that you pick up while in druid flight form. FTW!

Raiding
- 25-man naxx with DwP
- Seems tougher. Had to Mind Control spider adds
- Couldn't get down 1st boss in plague
- Shadow priest. Mana regen awesome!

Noblegarden
- spring rabbits foot pretty quickly
- chocolates stack in 20, so free up bags before you camp a spot
- Pick-up quests before starting egg collection
- Gather enough eggs to complete before moving on, then buy whatever you didn't get as drops
- /who doesn't show gender, and hard to tell with helms on. Orc and Dwarf hardest to find.
- Ashayo the Noble.

General
- New version of Altoholic warns of expiring mail on all toons. Nice!
- Childrens week - queue to pvp from anywhere - otherwise Dalaran would be death!

Gear check for Valathilia
- PvP kills - head enchant has resilience (Horde Expedition) Gems look PvP as well - run speed increase.
- Wrymrest Revered has a MP5 enchant.
- Chest needs an enchant - 8 mp5
- Wrist enchant - 18 spirit
- Gloves - spellpower
- Glyph of Guardian Spirit

Glanthur

Segment on the Argent Tournament and Marksman versus Survival Hunters

Bladed Edge

Blade here...

What a long strange trip it's been.
Well not really... but the sentiment is there... I haven't been on a lot in the past little while... and when I have, it's been interesting...
For example... I logged on with Blade last week and was almost immediately whispered by Tarqq asking if I wanted to have a spot in Naxx25!
Whoa!
Talk about a rogues' gallery... a lot of 'big names' were there... Ashayo (on Asheal) Tarqq, Maui, Allikat... the list goes on...

I tried to insist to Tarqq that I wouldn't be of much (if any use) in there... having only one level 80 epic piece of gear and all... he replied "Don't worry about it... I like your segment on Ctrl Alt WoW, you're in."
Whoo!
That kind of praise you can't *bribe* outta people... so not only was I slightly intimidated by the 'leet' crew of AIE types present (being surrounded by two dozen others bristling with super-powerful items makes one feel a little... inconsequential...)... but I was simultaneously humbled and honored that I would be singled out.
Props to that Raid crew for dragging me through... we downed two bosses but after about four or five wipes on Gluth, the raid was called there.
Another time, I tried a 10-man Vault of Archavon... and was way WAY too underpowered to take on the new boss... 1300 dps on a rogue sucks... so I've been trying to figure different angles and run a few heroics in the time I've been on in the last week to make some upward adjustments in gear quality.
And farming stuff for the AH so I can make some money to buy the mats I can use to craft the stuff I can't buy with badges.
Working on getting my leatherworker and tailor both up to 65 so I can start making the higher-end Northrend craftables as well... way too much stuff to do... not nearly enough time lately to fit it all in.
(Any likelihood on more instance runs, oh-Mistress of Quadboxing?)

Oh... and I've been doing fishing dailies... and trying to get the sea turtle mount you can only get from Northrend fishing schools... with zero luck, naturally...
Waiting on my first Oracle egg, too...
And then... there's always the Argent Tournament... but more on that in a second...

From the 'Dirty Little Tricks' Department...

I've been wondering a little something... have my 'edges' been a little less than 'edgy lately'?
Perhaps, perhaps not... they might have given you the proverbial 'edge', but they may have been less than 'dirty' so far as dirty tricks go.
Therefore, I dutifully submit the following... from me to you... Ol' Blade's got your back.
Let's go to the Argent Tournament.
Having done the dailies like everyone else and worked out a little pattern to the jousting fights (Glanthur is not wrong... it *is* very much like the Coldarra "Aces High!" daily)
Allow me to now share with you the secret of how I defeat the jousting valiants (and yes, now the champions) with relative ease.
4-2-3
Shields up, Shield Break, Charge
If you have enough distance between you and your opponent and they aren't closing the gap very quickly, then 4-4-2-3 for a second shield for yourself... 'cause you KNOW they will have put one up for themselves...
This works very well against Valiants...
But wait.
"Blade," I hear you say, "You said you were gonna share a secret! This is nothing but rolling your face across the keyboard!"
Ah... you caught on... for you see... the actual *secret* is dangerous... one *so* significant that I'm sure some of you may run in terror and hide in Northshire Abbey to escape the sheer magnitude of it:

Melee.
Specifically... find a friend... and have THEM dps your jousting opponent down.
Ol' Blade was feeling altruistic last week and decided to watch some of his fellow Hordies 'tilting at the lists' (that's a term for jousting). Every now and then one of the NPCs would stray across the path of my cursor and my cursor would change from the pointy-finger to the sword you see when you hover over a mob that you can attack.
So I tried attacking one.r
By the Beard of my Old Uncle Throgg!
I damaged him! So naturally... being a rogue and not letting such an opportunity go to waste, I busied myself with the wholesale slaughter of my newfound 'enemy'. It's nice when they don't fight back.
To my (and the Horde jouster's) amazement, they got the victory for defeating the NPC!
Aha!
So I tried it again... and again the Hordie got the credit!
Be wary, though... if you group up, this counts *against* you if you're trying for the [Lance A Lot] Achievement (where you must defeat one Valiant of every race - Horde and Alliance) as you will get credit as normal when in a group... so you will not be able to joust with each of the races until the hour is up, as you will have been credited for their defeat in the group with your partner... but as the Achievement says you have to joust them, and as you *didn't* defeat them while jousting, you won't get credit toward the Achievement if you melee them... but your partner will.
For this, I recommend marking your 'teammate' as your focus and *not* being in a group... it works just as well. Plus, you don't get the 'group credit' so you can then turn around and joust them yourself with your partner dps-ing them down.
I found that running around in wide circles keeps the NPC in the middle of the ring and allows your partner to reach the NPC jouster with less effort.
The final part to this dirty of dirty tricks?
You - as the jouster - are to make sure that your opponent has low or zero shields up... while keeping yours up enough that if your NPC manages to get to you, you take less damage... If your NPC opponent has *their* shields up, your partner might as well be beating on them with a post-patch-3.1 fishing pole. Watch the damage increase exponentially when the NPC's shields go down while you're dpsing them for a friend.
It's a treat.
Oh... one final thing... you *also* get weapon skill points when you're attacking these NPCs... so equip that two-handed mace or fist weapon you've been letting sit idle for a while and work on getting that [Armsman] Achievement while you're there!

From Ol' Blade's Easter Egg Basket...
Two little quick ones... both of them super heroic in origin...
In the Purple Parlor on top of the Violet Citadel is a butler named Alfred Copperworth who walks around and sells drinks. This is a reference to Alfred Pennyworth, the butler of billionaire playboy-turned costumed vigilante Bruce Wayne (aka Batman).
And in Felwood (in the cave-like hollow of Jadenar if memory serves me correctly) there is a female Night Elf named "Arko'narin" who is held captive in a cage. You must find a key to free her (it drops from the mobs in the cave) which will then allow you to take her escort quest to get her *out* of the cave. When freed and led deeper into the cave to retrieve her armor and weapons, she will spin in place a few times and will suddenly appear to be wearing her armor. She then says "All I need now is a golden lasso." This spinning move is classic to Linda Carter's portrayal of Wonder Woman in the 1970's television series.

Livin' on the Edge...
(As always, an awesome podcast guys!)

Loremaster Blade

Emails

Email #1 from MO
Hi,
Thank you as always to all of you for a great cast.
I missed writing for episode 111 but wanted to comment on the latest news, of course the patch!

I was one that was wondering why everyone was so excited for dual speccing but I shelled out the 1k for my warrior, and I have to say OH MY! it is nice!
I dont have tanking gear but i can switch from arms to prot spec is a shorter time than i can say OH MY!
I also did it on a Pally that I transferred to go play with Xandarr's clan on Trollbane, I will be working with prot and ret, that should be fun.
I have heard some people having issues with it but that will be fixed in the coming weeks.

Also, for my hunters, and I do have lot of them, OH MY! 1000 stackable ammo and no quiver!
what can i say, I will have a million arrows and bullets, maybe this is not a good thing :(

No of course it is.

As for other changes, no really anything else affects me yet.
I will not be raiding the new place any time soon so hope you raiders are enjoying the new raid of Ulduar, but I heard some one already cleared it!
I am sure they will be saying that wow is too easy for teh 97% noobers out there.

and yes i have been using the Aprillian coined term noober
I have been giving you credit when I can.

Thank you always and I am sure I will tweet you as I always to :)
and Ashayo please tell Wych that Van Halen encompasses all of its members including SAMMY HAGAR and Gary Cherone .

FOR THE VAN HALEN,
oopsi I mean Ctrl Alt Wow!

--
Mo

Email #2 from Inacan
Hello fine folks at Ctrlaltwow,

I wanted to comment on what struck me as funny in last weeks podcast.

I listened to Ashayo comment on how Bliz keeps watering down Wow. I agree that this is a downfall in the game and I do understand the economics of why Bliz does it. I don't know that most people know the extent of the watering down of the game. Those of us who have been playing the game for a long period of time (3 years or more)feel that the newer folks missed out on so much. When it was decided that all the elites were to be taken out of quest lines in vanilla Wow so what you used to have to be grouped for could now be solo'ed I thought it was a bit silly. When they came out with Burning Crusade and made all the level 60 end game instances irrelevant I thought that's just plain silly.

I often wonder what people think some of their abilities are for if they never had to raid vanilla content. In level 60 instances any high DPS toon could pull aggro from the tank and get one or two shotted by an elite in an instance and it did not have to be a boss. You would have to watch your threat and make sure you did not string 3 crits together or it was Buh Bye. You would have to sheep, sap and or do whatever crowd control was available because just pulling every mob in the area would get you a wipe every time.

Now it seems to me that a tank can tank 5 mobs with people DPS'ing 2 of them full tilt and not lose aggro and crowd control is no longer needed. I mean when was the last time you saw a mage sheep a mob or a rogue sap a mob? Maybe in BC and that didn't happen often.

I guess what struck me funny about this is the interview with Zandar and the Experienced noob.
I am not an elitist by any stretch but anyone who didn't play vanilla Wow when it was at its best is an experienced noob or maybe an inexperienced played by no fault of their own.

I thought I heard in Ashayo's tone these same feelings. The more they water down this game them more people that miss out on a lot of brilliant work done by some very talented people. It used to take a group of folks who had to split the work load by each doing their job in a sort of dance if you will, to make every pull work. Now it seems to be high easy threat by the tank followed by all the dps you can do as fast as you can do it. It still has its merit but the game is easier by far. The things you used to have to work for such as Druid epic flying in BC is now just given to you.

I still enjoy the game but found the to things brought together in your podcast an ironic event though unintentional. I don't know that vanilla Wow was better per say but I think a lot of real Wow enthusiast's who have never experienced it should try it in level appropriate gear. Its a ball.

I do dare say triple boxing it would take a lot of talent.

Sorry for the wall of text. I hope I don't sound like an old man who had to walk 14 miles to school up hill...both ways.

Happy Hunting.

Inacan ( the artist formerly known as Ginsue)

Email #3 from Brenry

Awhile back you did a Youtube video of just gameplay dualboxing. In another podcast episode you mentioned the idea of doing another, but hadn’t heard of anything since.

It would be really interesting to see a commentary video on your interface setup. Ashayo had mentioned before he was against using Keyclone and would be interested on his dual box strategies, especially since he does instancing.

I found using dual display and just mouse over with a prot paladin and priest combo easier to do without keyclone, but have been struggling with different dps classes.

Email #4 from Elsinne Starsong
This isn't my first email to you guys, so you know I love your program.

I am a recovering alt-aholic. It didn't start off that way. I started in Vanilla WoW back in early 2005. After trying and hating some different classes for a several weeks, I tried warlock. I put it off until the end because it seemed like the class I would least enjoy. I loved it every second from level 1 to level 60, the old cap. I was NEVER bored or wished that I picked another class. I played that warlock, and only that warlock, for a year and a half. No bank alts, no test alts, nothing. Just me and my human warlock. All of my in-game friends had lots of alts. Was I missing something? I tried some of the other classes prior to warlock but maybe I missed something. I eventually played a druid to 80, death knight to 80, and every other class in the game to at least 40, and some in the 50s. I enjoyed the alts and the versatility for a while. But I recently realized that I didn't LOVE any of them. I liked my druid, but I didn't love her. I liked my paladin, but I didn't love her. I REALLY, REALLY liked my death knight, but it was more lust than anything else. Before the end, before I sought help, I had alts scattered on servers all across the universe. But I only loved warlock. Rogue was fun in pvp and shamans ... well ... I always hated them. I did it all. Warlock called to me from the twisting nether.

Today, I started over. I decided to roll Horde since I've never been Horde before. I have no Horde friends, in game or out. I have no Horde characters to give my new character cash. I have nothing. I have been Alliance 4 Life. I also decided I would only have ONE character. No bank alt, no alt to sit by mailboxes to be my cash alt, no alts for buying mats, no nothing. Just ONE character. I know this is blasphemy for those of you who multi-box, but I had to bury my alt-aholism. So now I am playing with a blood elf warlock. This will be my only character, possibly for all eternity. I can never get enough of warlock. I will need to come up with a new Blood Elf last name for RP purposes. Starsong is clearly Kaldorei. I don't want to be rejected by Sindorei folk!

Elsinne

Email #4 Kyle

Hey all!

Have any of you changed the way you play with your alts now that patch 3.1 and dualspecs are out? Do you find yourself playing someone more and others less?

I ask because now that the patch is out my level 80 priest can finally dualspec into shadow, and I can finally do what I've been wanting to do for a while: continue questing in Northrend (haven't started Icecrown yet), maybe even start doing dailies other than the cooking quest, all the while inbetween raids and experiencing all that content. Questing and dailies are so much easier in Shadowform, and of course it's easier to get into raids as a healer.

However, now I find myself filled with guilt. I've fallen in love playing my shaman who is now in her mid 40's, whom I've been playing during my priest's "downtime" in which I really didn't want to pay to respec and stuck with holy. She was my first alt, and after those annoying totem quests playing with her has been a blast - especially since being on a pvp server I can finally defend myself and attack back. Also I get to explore all the other areas my main never ventured into and enjoy all the sights and things to do. Then I have my other favorite alt, the pally. She's ventured to the early 30's and it has been a blast. My mage I *want* to play, but sadly I haven't been able to enjoy playing her. Then there's my level 20 warlock who finally got his succubus, and a few other odd alts that I created to have on hand but have yet play. But now with dualspecs out and my priest finally able to be both a healer and a quester, I find myself with less time to give my alts the attention they so deserve and that I want to give them.

Perhaps I just need to win the lottery and retire from life.

Anyway thanks for a wonderful show!

For the Horde!

But because Glanthur is so likable, I'll give him a "yay alliance!" also.

--Kyle

Email # 5 from Vala

Hello CtrlAltWow
Vala here

So this week hasn't been the best week for vala. I enter 10m Naxx just a random Inv and we failed about 5times trying to get to the first boss in the military quater. And even though I knew it wasn't my fault I just felt like it was. Than 2locks and a rogue tried to gank me don't they know I am lover not a fighter LOL. But in the plus I got the reins of the white polar bear and started to work the AH :) well guys like always great podcast.
For the Horde

Email # 6 from LITE

Hi guys! this is my first email to a podcast.

I want you guys to know that I listen to about 5 podcasts and I think yours is the most informed one out there. With your diverse and many alts you can bring so many experiences in professions and classes to the table. I learn something every episode.

I wanted to tell you about a fun and challenging way my friend and I decided to level our characters. I have a level 64 prot pally and my friend has a 64 warlock. We decided to start 2-manning instances. It's pretty intimidating rushing a boss with 50k health and no healer.

We have completed Dire Maul and Scholomance so far and we plan on moving to Ramps next. It was the first time in Dire Maul and Scholomance for both of us so it was great to get the achievement along with the shards.

My challenge to you guys is to come up with a better 2-man combo. I don't think you can.

The prot pally brings: aoe tanking, self healing, bubble for me and partner while the lock brings healthstones, soulstones, a pet and face melting.

Love your show please keep it up.

FOR THE ALLIANCE!

LITE : RUNETOTEM SERVER

Thanks & Stuff

Thanks #1 from Groundbeaf

He guys just got back to work after a few days of vacation and imagine my surprise when i heard the roll and that Groundbeaf was the winner this week, I still cant believe my luck. I am taking everyones advice and going to try a Prot pally for a tank and dual box him with a elemental shammy & if i dont like that combo i might switch the shammy for a warlock. Thanks again for everything and keep up the good work, i'd also like to say thanks to blade for his input every week because i believe i left him out last week, so sorry blade. As far as my prize i'll go with a month of WOW time to feed my addiction lol. Wish you all the best and hope to talk to you again soon and let you know how the dualbox leveling is going.

For the Horde

Groundbeaf, AIE Earthen Ring Server

Thanks #2 from Keelhaul

Ashayo, your low rolls paid off for me ;D Thank you very much. I will take the free month of WoW time. I will continue to send in my updates, but please remove me from the weekly prize drawing since I won.

Okay noob time. When the patch hit I logged into my pally and speced him to tank and ran an instance and all was good. Then I logged into my hunter….

I ran heroic HoS and for the life of me couldn’t figure out why my DPS was so poor and my pet kept dying. We finished the run and decided to run heroic UK. More of the same, my damage was horrible and my cat kept getting his whiskers handed to him. We made it to the final boss and the rogue in our group gave me a quick inspection and informed me, and the group that I forgot spec….

So yeah I am on the Huntard list lol. I quickly speced myself and my cat and wouldn’t you know my damage shot up and my cat actually lived :D I was with a PuG but surprisingly they were pretty easy on me. After a few minutes of laughing we completed the instance and an epic crossbow dropped. Since I was the only hunter, it was mine.

Now for a tip:

I got the crossbow but my skill with it was 1…. As a dorf engineer I have always used guns. To quickly level up a distance weapon skill, just go to Netherstrom and look for Dr. Boom. He is located north of Area 51 and has a heap of hit points. He does not have a distance attack but does have little bomb mobs that run around him.

Look for the barrel near him, stand on it and click on your autoshot. You will be able to hit him without getting hit by him of the little bomb mobs. I was able to level from 1 – 400 pretty easy, just remember to buy cheap arrows before you go.

-Keelhaul

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Ctrl Alt WoW Episode 111 - Pour One Out for the Quiver

Aprillian, Glanthur and Ashayo discuss another week of playing World of Warcraft, Blizzard's great MMORPG. Contest Ongoing send an email to ctrlaltwow@gmail.com telling us how you play WoW, either as an altaholic or dealing with it in your family life to being placed in a drawing for a month free of WoW or a $10 iTunes Gift Card or an Authenticator, they are back in the store.

What We've Been Doing:

Aprillian

Took Auruk and Elyte to Borean Tundra to try to complete those quests

Patch Day,

Post Patch Day - first thing I did was get on my hunters and stack ammo. So many things to look at. The Cockroach icon has changed.
Northrend and Minor Inscription is moved to the Inscribe

Took Elyte and Auruk to to complete some of the quests there. Server crash had each rolled back to a different part.

Spent Thur morning updating all mods that I could.

Took Auruk to Shat to do some fishing dailies and level fishing.

Brought both DK's to Warsong Hold to finish quests there. Brought in Auruk as well.

Someone keeps undercutting my pets. But I still made money. Made some gold selling glyphs, wonder why?

Back in Borean Tundra, completed some more quests and Elyte hit 70, took her to Shadowmoon to get her Flying mount.

Went into Underbogs with the Twins, Auruk and Aprillian. Jovam joined us and we had a blast Although Jovam left me halfway, I hope he's allright.

Sat morning took Auruk to Shat to do a cooking daily because Thu/Fri he couldn't do the daily in Dal. So I had abandoned the Shat cooking one and he still got a white exclamation point. My Scribe learned [Glyph of Raise Dead] No more Corpse Dust, yeah.

Listening to Chris and Dave, if you are not having fun don't play.

Wiped several times in Underbogs with the Quad, during breaks at work, I took Auruk and Elyte back to Agarmand in Howling Fjord to grind Shoveltusk. Got lots of Borean Leather Shoveltusk meat and Chilled meat. Elyte even got some herbs. Black diamonds.

Ashayo

Oracles: White Tickbird

Healed Azjol'Nerub (survived 1st boss, amazingly), Utgarde Keep, Drak'Tharon Keep
Noticed that I didn't have Circle of Healing on Healbot (noob)

Jekle and Hiide did the Wrathgate chain, but just handed it on Jekle.
Want to see if it has any impact on Hiide (who now is pretty much useless in Org and UC)

Jekle hits 77 and gets cold weather flying with 8 minutes till shutdown for patch

Dual spec Ashayo. Demonology (this time with Metamorphosis) in one ; Affliction in another. Happy to find that when geared up, affliction dps is comparable to demo/destr hybrid

Dual spec Asheal. Shadow and Holy

Dual spec Jekle. Resto and Boomkin - amazing difference when trying to solo daily JC quest

Specced Hiide Beast Master after thinking about Survival. Tamed a bear rather than keep Gorilla for Thunderstomp. Bear has swipe as well.

Naxx 10 man. Won tier pants, which granted 4-set bonus - increase spirit by 300 for 10 seconds on life tap... but what's the point of spirit for warlock now?
Stack with Glyph of Lifetap - increases spell power by 20% of spirit for 20 seconds

With 'track fish' on, minimap still shows herb nodes. Bug? Fixed?

Too dumbed down? No books 1st aid, no fishing quest, no fail on skin/mine/herb

Daily fishing quest in dalaran - epic 30 stam gem!
Fishing in wintergrasp - get the mats for Fish Feast ; don't need to find schools. (Fish feast is no longer BoP)
Tried doing fishing daily on jekle - level 1 fishing. actually fished up a deep see monsterbelly in the frozen sea! but no quest item.
But did it on Asheal at 144 after Deadlyvyv took it up and got the quest item at 155

Nice armory upgrade - can see glyphs and both specs of toons.

Healing 25-man Naxx.
rolled 13 on nice bracers upgrade - Maui passed after winning healing bracers :)
Haunting call - 1h mace
Fading Glow - wand

Druids got another re-spec after shutdown

First Aid vendor in Dalara sells intavenous healing potion

Quest Tracker showing quest item on screen is terrific

Game crash / corruption of patch.mpq
I run repair before patching. Came up clean. Patched and immediately copied all files before running game.
Patch.mpq gets corrupt and crashes game. Copy in backup. Game crashes again. Run repair. Unrepairable. Arrrrggh.

Trade chat filled with WTB Book of Glyph Mastery. Selling for up 5000g. I lucked on one for 50g! woot. Some people need to take more notice of what's going on around them!
Increased drop rate, but still selling for very high prices.

Tried 10-man and 25-man Emalon in VoA. Tough dude! Need high dps and fast response.

Spammers are back in force

Guppers tried 25-man malygos. Got to 3rd phase, but not quite there. Ran off to Naxx Military Quarter with tail between our legs.

Back to doing dailies - JC / Cooking / Fishingx2 / Argent Tournament
Jousting is hard! Suspect latency is biting me.

Exalted with Argent Crusude during heroics today.
Northrend Vanguard - exalted with them all

Glanthur

Glanthur is now officially a part of . He's super excited. Also been doing lots of Tournament stuff.

Arlaerus has been doing JC dailies everyday.

Thank-goodness for new flight paths that let you skip the screaming people in Dragonblight.

Interview with http://theexperiencednoob.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/Xandarr2112

Emails

Email #1 from Keelhaul

Greetings again Ctrl Alt WoW Crew. I hope you had a great holiday weekend. I got some of much needed family time in and even a little WoW to boot. I ran my first heroic dungeon on my hunter and it was great, even if the gear that dropped was usefull to every class but mine :)

My Oracle egg finally hatched and "drumroll" I got the proto dragon whelp! Not the drop I was hoping for, but I'll take it. I have to admit my heart stoppedfor a second when I first read it lol.

I also played my pally a bit and he is now level 73 and a tanking machine. Well I hope you guys also had a chance to enjoy the long weekend and I cant wait to download this weeks podcast.

-Keelhaul

Email #2 from Karen

Hmm, I could have sworn I sent this email already (see below), perhaps it got eaten by the innertubes.

Most of it still applies, I suppose, though it's responding to topics from several shows past. Do with it what you will (but I would like a chance to win an iTunes gift card, I'm getting an iphone for mother's day).

Quick update:

Our three toon group has gone through the BC instances up to Auchenai Crypts (and, yes, we did them in the 'right' order). Next up is Caverns of Time: Escape from Durnholde Keep (which sounds like a bad movie sequel). I'm looking forward to it since we've heard about the instance but never been inside. We need to level up one level though and I'm glad 3.1 dropped so that I can dual spec my paladin holy/prot because questing with a mage/pally duo when I was holy was painful.

The Patch brings more fun dailies for my level 80 Hunter to do: the Argent Tournament. New non-combat pets for those obsessive pet collectors out there, like my hunter, Elsa!

Great show as usual, keep it up, can't wait to hear what you have to say about 3.1

Karen

ps I see that I sent the email below from a different address, so maybe I got caught in a spam filter. I'll try this one from the address I used before.

Email #3 from Mucklor

G'day Aprillian, Ashayo, Glanthur and possibly Blade. I am writing to tell you how WOW has affected my life. I started playing WOW a little over 2 years now and I am no doubt addicted to the game. I am married with two daughters and they really don’t understand the obsession I have for a PC video game seeing how I am 42 years old and work all the time. I play with my twin brother who got me into the game and whenever we are on we are on Team speak talking. What people outside the game don’t understand is that the experience is far beyond that of just a video game. The friendships you make in game and the entire community that has sprung up around the game is mind blowing. I would never put the game ahead of my family or work in my priorities even though if you ask my wife she would disagree. I really don’t see the attraction of just sitting on the couch watching the same ol same ol on the television. I get to talk to my brother who lives in PA and I live in TX .I get to exercise my mind (unfortunately not my body) and do something I enjoy. The hardest thing I have found is trying to explain in-game commitments to my wife. If I sign up for a raid on a certain day at a certain time that I know I have no RL commitments during that time it always seems that inevitably my RL commitments are changed and I am forced to choose between the two. I am by no means complaining I am sure there are plenty of players in the same position. This has come to light recently with BRK stepping away from WOW to spend more time with his family. I think the hardest part of playing WOW is not in the game but finding that balance of RL and WOW to be able to enjoy the game and enjoy your family and RL also.

Keep up the great Podcast I enjoy listening every week. Ashayo you did a great job on the BOE Podcast a few weeks ago and I think you have Wych scared :-).

Aprillian I still am amazed at the whole quad boxing concept.

Glanthur, Alliance really?????? why?? :-)

Lok'Tar ogar For The Horde, Mucklor level 80 Orc Hunter Kirin Tor US

Email #4 via Twitter from Ginsue

Good morning fine hosts of ctrlaltwow,

I am new to the twitter world and was wondering if you can only tweet to people who follow you.

Since you are all tweeters I thought I would ask you.

If this is the case may I bother you to add me to your list?

Thank you in advance,

Inacan - The artist formerly known as Ginsue.

Yes I changed mains again. I really need to look into that 10 step program.

P.S. My twitter name is the same as my Pali = Inacan.
I am following the three of you so I shouldn't be hard to find.

Email #5 from Valathilia

Hello guys
Valathilia here
So the new patch came out and sadly to say I don't love my new holy tree spec.how do u guys feel about the changes?new voa boss, raid, the tournment as well?
I now have to watch my mana which is even worse I been getting better on using it even with the 40% reduction to spirit. But I do love my new 1.48 greater heal cast after 3flashes.
Well love the podcast and keep up the good work :)
For the horde and sometimes the alliance

Gear check info, valathilia of the maiev server

http://www.wowarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Maiev&n=Valathilia

iTunes Review (yeah)

Australian Review

Monday, April 13, 2009

Ctrl Alt WoW Episode 110 - You No Take Easter Eggs

Aprillian, Glanthur and Ashayo discuss another week of playing World of Warcraft, Blizzard's great MMORPG.

Contest Ongoing send an email to ctrlaltwow@gmail.com telling us how you play WoW, either as an altaholic or dealing with it in your family life to being placed in a drawing for a month free of WoW or a $10 iTunes Gift Card.

What We've Been Doing:

Aprillian

Completed Tempest Keep on my own Sunday night. IT was awesome
Trying to do the Hellfire Penns Dungeons, got the key for Shattered Halls, thanks Maui
Grabbed everybody and got to the gates. Wed morning I will go in. Brought in Primall to do Summons, and sent Epril and Auruk to Dalaran and Howling Fjord for JC daily.

After getting the Dwarf thing on the first kill, Auruk and Epril grinded Shuveltusk for meat and skin. Auruk felt a little uncomfortable killing Shoveltusk in Howling Fjord, they have hoofs like me. Auruk is getting to level his LW. Got his 2nd Artic Fur. He is also getting closer to 70, time for another flying mount.

Wed morning, first thing, do dailies on Auruk and Epril. Then off to Shattered Halls. Aprillian was down to 2 soul shards but not concerned because the mobs were green, but she can't get from Shattered Halls

Auruk Dinged 70 and got his flying mount. Then Blade told me that Shattered Halls was too high and that maybe I should go to Coilfang. Did Slave Pens with Jovam

Went to Nagrand to get my envelope of gems. And mostly because I wanted to fly with Auruk. But then I got a whisper from Ralff inviting me to a raid on Darnassus. It was pretty awesome. So I'm 1/4 of the way to getting a bear.

I'm basically doing the JC and Cooking Dailies Everyday.

Ashayo

Oracle - White Tickbird

Jekle
- Dalaran Jewelcrafting tokens did indeed climb beyond 60. phew!

Ashayo (achievement whore and gear upgrade week!)
- Inscription - Northern Research - learnt nothing! /sad
- Tempest Keep run with Guild Officers ; needed guild for Kael'thas Sunstrider.
- Zul'Aman achievement
- Oculus run with guildies new to it. Vyv, Cherry, Zhevra, Shadowkillz (tough, as it was a melee group)

- 10-man Naxx group; Sulfur Stave upgrade. It has a bat as the head - and it flaps!
- Progressed through Grobulus (which gave me 250 Emblems of Heroism), Gluth (nearly did it with 1 warrior. Dills ftw. 12,000 health left out of about 11m), and Thaddius (I died before boss. So did Solador. One (of two) healers died halfway thru. Shaman died at 10%. Still killed him.)

- 25-man Naxx group took down Sapphiron's and Kel'Thuzad ; last two bosses in Naxxramas. Nice pants upgrade
- Then later in week after reset, completed Heroic Military Quarter (Four Horseman), attaining [The Fall of Naxxramas] achievement
- Won a one handed sword [Life and Death]. Together with the badge reward offhand, increased spell power by 120 over staff just upgraded earlier in the week!
- Spent 60 Emblem of Valor on Valorous Plagueheart Shoulderpads.
- Nice cloak upgrade off Kel'Thuzad
(Just need a good head and wrist upgrade now)

Asheal
- Tailors can land on top of Maw of Neltharion to make Ebonweave
- Healed Malygos 25 man. Full on! ( I had very little idea of what was happening, and very little instruction )
- Healed 25-man Naxx with Nightlife guild
- Starting to heal more heroics with confidence. CoS ; not timed run- Heal Drak'Tharon keep and got a bunch of achievements - normal, Heroic, 100 Stone keeper's shards, Guru of Drakuru
- Heal H Halls of Lighting with Bearbutt tanking. Fun! Got the daily quest done, but then wiped on Loken and trash respawned.
- Heal H Old Kingdom. Daily 1hr timer - can sneak behind insanity boss! "All things in good time"
- Heal H Violet Hold. Zuramat the obliterator ; shadow damage hard if afflicted party member doesn't take out the adds. But done!

Jekle
- Healing more on Jekle too. Ran Violet Hold twice in a row and got same bosses and loot each time.
- Dual-box Gundrak - 2 healers! Vyv, Westleey & Ohrkid
- Heal VH on Jekle; hit level 76
- Jekle and Hiide have commenced the Wrathgate chain and trying to open Wrymrest dailies to gain rep for head enchant. (Tip: Check items you loot to see if they start a quest!) Hiide hits 75. New arrows! & Masters call

Alliance
- BWL on Alliance DK & Priest (instant transfer!) Ah, the memories!

Glanthur

- Ran 10-man Naxx with

- Ran 10-man OS with

- Replaced my last blue item. Now I'm all purpley

Arlaerus

- No one's buying my Titanium Spellshock Ring

- Continued doing Jewelcrafting Dailies

- Got exalted with Sons of Hodir (but I cheated and bought my way to there)

Felinas

- Made a new alt.

- Currently level 11

- Going to be a feral druid eventually, but am not sure how to level her. Maybe Balance?

General

Oh when will 3.10 be released. I have placeholders in my bars for my rotation.

Ordering a new iMac on Monday that will have a great video card, tons of RAM, and a fast processor. Ultra Graphics Mode here I come!

Bladed Edge

Emails

Special Email from Wemb

Greetings you three! I bring you some information and some advice!

In show 107 April wondered what Wemb meant. I would like to think she wasn't far wrong that it is a cute aussie animal, maybe Temp would agree! Maybe a Wemb is a breed of Drop-Bear? Ask Ashayo what a Drop-Bear is, i bet he's already chuckling!

The truth is that a very close friend way back in high school decided my nickname was Wembley after the character in the show Fraggle Rock! I keep telling myself its because he, like myself has blonde hair, but i think its really because he is the fraggle that is ditzy and always gets distracted and wanders off!

The advice? April I know how daunting comparing gear and knowing if it is good for you can be, so i will give you a two step, simple way to do it on the run.

Step 1- go to a site called www.gotwarcraft.com Its not the most comprehensive or up to date site, but it is the simplest site i have seen for learning the basics about a new class or spec. Down the left you will see links to all the specs for each class. Go to the one you need info about and have a look through. Take as little or as much info as you need, but what you are looking for is the main attributes you want to build for your spec. For example, a BM Hunter requires agility, hit rating and crit rating.

Step 2- Downoad a mod called Rating Buster.. When you are ingame, and you hover over any piece of equipment for your class, it will show you the difference between that piece of gear and the current equivalent piece you are wearing, for every stat. So again, if you are a BM Hunter, it will show you whether you will gain or lose agi, hit and crit by wearing that piece. It will also convert raw stats like strength and stamina into the attack or hit point bonus for your class and include that in the stats. It just makes the decision way less daunting.

I hope that helps, I know it helped me a lot.

Terrific show guys, i never miss it. Glanthur, don't feel alone and outnumbered sitting with those dirty Horde players, because I am right behind you ready to back you up with a well placed arcane barrage! (just don't be surprised when i lift my skirt and run, invisibility for the win!)

For the Alliance! Love Wemb.

p.s. If you read this on the show, don't include me in a prize roll, save that for your lovely listeners!

Auruk's new belt.

Email #1 from Zeclion

Hi Guys,

Although I'm somewhat new to this game (I started playing in early December last year) I have spent a lot of time looking up information and thought I might be able to give a few tips on gear to get after you hit level 80. While I was leveling and for quite a while after hitting 80 I was only part of a small guild that was created with about 6 friends so we could all play together. We where all at various levels so I spent most my time leveling alone, and spent a couple of months waiting for others to hit 80. I leveled to 80 on my priest at the end of January, which was quicker than a lot of my other friends so I spent some time getting all the pre-raid gear the I could, since we where not raiding at the time. Hopefully this will help those listeners that are looking for where they can get gear after hitting 80.

There is a very liner line for getting gear upgrades once you hit 80. The general order of gear goes something like this:

Normal Quest Rewards --> Normal Dungeon Drops --> Normal Dungeon Quest Rewards --> Rep Rewards --> Heroic Dungeon Drops/Items from Emblems of Heroism --> 10man Raid drops --> 25man Raid Drops/Emblems of Valor

If you hit 80 and you haven’t been doing many 5-man dungeons try to go back and get the quests for each dungeon since the quest rewards are very good, and it also guarantees that you will get a nice piece of gear from the first time you run the dungeon. You should also be grabbing one of the 4 tabards from the Argent Crusade, Kirin Tor, Wyrmrest Accord or Ebon Blade and be wearing it while running your heroic dungeons. Have a look through the quartermasters for each faction and once you find the item/s you want to go for, put the tabard on while you run your heroics to get reputation. Some factions are better for some classes than others so you will need to check the types of gear that each one sells to pick which faction you want to get rep for first. For example as a holy priest I choose Wyrmrest Accord first for the head enchant, the wrists, and the epic boots. These items where all just from rep with one faction. For all these factions, except for the Kirin Tor, there are also dailies that you can do to help get extra bits of rep.

If you use this as a guide then by the time you get the rep for a couple of the factions you will properly have accumulated a bunch of Emblems of heroism that you can spend in Dalaran for some nice pieces of gear. The first items I would look to get are the tier 7 chest piece (80 emblems) and the tier 7 gloves (60 emblems). You will also find some nice Amulets, Belts, Weapons and trinkets for these emblems as well.

After doing this you should be easily able to get into raiding if that is what you want to do. This is the path that I took and I am easily able to get through the 10man raiding content.

Sorry for the wall of text, but I thought I would chime in on this since I was recently in this position of trying to get gear without access to raiding. Love the show and keep up the good work.

Regards,

Zeclion

Level 80 Holy Priest and GM of Ragnarok on the Gundrak US Server

Email #2 Valathilia

Hello guys
Valathilia here
Oh man aprillian I loved the Italian accent you gave my email lol. And it's funny you said that I already played a hunter, it was my first alt :). Later a warlock, and than my dear holy priest
Valathilia :) and the reason why I asked which of the two healers I should choose it's because in the 10man KT fight the restro shaman and holy paladin seemed to not go ooom in mana as Vala(if you don't mind can u do a gear check). Oh I was mad during my KT fight as we pug the dps that same fight and we kicked a rogue out of group because he was mad at are raid leader for some reason. He wanted to wipe us and he wouldn't leave the instance. Long story short he rejoin the raid but I felt forced to throw him heals lol guys great podcast and thanks for all the tips. :)
P.s do any of you have sterotypes for certain classes for example
Healers must be female except shaman in my case
Tanks male and rogues also must be females lol

Email #3 from Leralonde

Dear Aprillian, Glanthur and Ashayo,

I'm a longtime altoholic with about 25 alts on 4 european servers.

You probably had this question a thousand times but.......
Because of your podcast and aprillians youtube video on dual-boxing i got interested in dualboxing.
I recently got a second account to try dual boxing..... Its difficult!!!

I dual box on a macbook pro and a pc.
i got mine lvl 53 hunter on the pc and my lvl 11'ish warlock on the macbook.
but the lock died several times because he got attacked and i got confused with who was on what.
and hitting the pc keyboard while moving the macbook mouse didn't help either.

so i'm definetly doing something wrong.

in Aprillians video i learned that she is using a switch.
What kind of switch do you use and does it work on both a pc and macbook?

Do you have any tips?

and is using a hunter and warlock good for dual boxing?
because i hear that shamans are great for dualboxing, they say shamans are even better than hunters to dual box.

so can you help me out?

kind regards,

Leralonde (druid) from the european Azjol'nerub server.

ps: love your podcast!
keep up the great work !

ps.ps: You have a fan in the Netherlands!

ps.ps.ps: for the Horde!

Email # 4 from Ginsue

Hello fine hosts of Ctrl Alt Wow,

I would like to thank Glanthur for the generous gift of his own personal authenticator. Had I known it was your personal one I would have had it bronzed. Alas its bound to my account so I can no longer do that. Seriously though...thank you!

Grats on creating the term "nuber". You had the people in the cars around me in yesterdays morning rush hour wondering what I had in my coffee. I lol'ed for a good mile and a half.

Thank Keelhaul for giving me a noob moment during last weeks show. I have been grinding Oracle rep for weeks now thinking to myself...almost exalted...almost exalted...I can get my eggs. I heard you read Keelhual's email saying you can get them at revered. /facepalm..... I guess I should read more and pew pew less sometimes.

You had ask for stories about how Wow affects our home lives and other than sometimes putting off mowing the grass or some other chore for a day or two to play it has very little affect. Some people watch TV I watch a computer screen.

My wife did overhear me in Vent talk about the arena contest that Bilzz is putting on with a grand prize of like $10,000. She ask me if I was going to enter and I told her no. She ask why and I said I am not good enough to win the money. She (not knowing anything about Wow at all) raised an eyebrow and said "you play how many hours a week and you still aren't any good?" She said this in good humor and then I explained to her all that there is to do in Wow. I think she just nodded in the right places and went on with her life.

Altaholism has affected my in game friendships more than my real life. I have had many mains over the years and have raided most of them. I as I suppose many altaholics, get bored with a toon after a while and want to play something else. I fall behind in raid progression so I am unable to raid with my friends until I catch up if that is even possible. I guess it just goes with the illness. They say the first step is realizing you have a problem. Ya think there is a ten step program?

Thanks for the entertainment.

Happy Hunting,

Ginsue

Email #5 Curly

Hello all!!
let me say that I love your pod cast. I think its great fun, and I like it a lot.

So....I have 20 toons on 3 different servers. 10 on Norgannon, 5 on Ghostlands, and 5 on Earthen Ring (in Alea Iacta Est!!). I am single, live with a room mate, and work from 130pm to 1030pm Monday through Friday. My main is a level 76 holy human priest, and my other toons range from 71, some in the high 60's, a 40, two 30's a 2 27's and about 10 between 7 and 14, I pretty much have one of everything.

Since I am single I am lucky enough not to have to worry about WOW interfering with my life, and I play what ever toon I fell like playing at the time. I might jump on one for 30 min and then another for 30 min, or spend hours on one....there is no rhyme or reason, I just roll with what I feel.

I usually wake up around 9:00am have a cup of coffee, and jump on to one of my lower toon to try and squeeze out a level here and there. ( I do tend to, however, horribly neglect my professions)

The draw back to all of this, is that the friends that I have made on line to tend to out level me fairly quickly. One of my Horde guilds (I am in four guilds all together) has started doing heroics that my level 71 Warlock cant get in yet, and I have just not had the urge to play her.

So that is the meat and potatoes of it.

Please keep the podcasts coming!!

All the best.

Kurly.

Email #6 Groundbeaf

Hey guys love the podcast and wanted to thank you all for taking the time to do a new podcast every week, look forward to listening to it at work each week. I've recently ran into a slight problem, before wrath i had 2 70's, my main was a human priest that i raided with and a dwarf hunter that was used as my gatherer. I had other alts of the other classes in the 60's but when recruit a friend came out i leveled up horde alts of each class so i could see how the horde side lives. Since wrath i leveled my hunter/priest combo to 80 and then my warrior/druid were the next to 80. I have changed my main to the druid since the guild i run naxx with needed a moonkin and i really like the multiple roles the druid can play.

However i miss playing my horde toons and really want to get a couple of them to 80 so i can see how things are on the horde side. My highest level toon is a 61 warrior/priest combo but since i already have 80's on the alliance side i'm wondering if i shouldnt level other classes to 80 to give me more variety to play with.

My question to you is this, which classes and specs do you think i should try and level next. Since the warrior/druid & the priest/hunter are done that leaves the others fair game I just cant make up my mind right now and thought i'd maybe get everyone elses opinion.

Again thanks for putting out a great show, its always great to hear how everyone has fun playing WOW and gets their enjoyment in different ways, however i will say Aprillian I have no idea how you keep track of all your alts LOL. Ashayo its nice to hear how the raiding on the horde side is going and of course Glanthur its good to see you represent the Alliance side of things. Keep up the great work and look forward to running into you all in Northrend.

For the Horde, or should i say For the Alliance, I'm so confused.

Groundbeaf, AIE Guild Earthen Ring Server

Email # 7 Wowalterego

Hi Apprillian, Ashayo and Glanthur,

First of all I love your podcast, I started dual boxing because of it!

Here is a quick story,

A while ago I was dualboxing my hunters, doing a quest in DarkShore Tharnariun's Hope where you have to Kill the Den Mother.

Since Borean Tundra was a new realm, there was a line of people waiting to do this quest.
When it was finally my turn, a rude shaman and a warrior jumped in front of me and the shaman dropped a fire aoe totem with hopes of stealing my kill.

Well I was not going to let that happen, so I spammed tab autoshot, and I was able to tag every mob before the other 2 rude players did!

When I killed the quest mob, the warrior exclaimed "This is lame... and they both left"

Yes that was a great moment for me.

From Wowalterego.

Level 61 hunters Shaw and Winga
Level 66 Death knights Korat and Tarok on the Borean tundra realm

For the alliance!

And a /cry my RAF ended last month.

wowalterego.com

Thanks and Stuff

From Berte La Dwarf

Aprillian,

I haven't checked my email in a while and maybe I'm just late but,

You already sent me an authenticator! ;-)

I haven't hooked it up as I have an Ipod touch and thought that would be neat to use (as well as bigger and brighter to read.... no, I don't need bi-focals...). But I've been hearing that people are having trouble with the Battle Net Login so I'm still procrastinaing.

Thanks again for a lovely prize.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Ctrl Alt WoW Episode 109 - Gear Check Aisle 5

Aprillian, Glanthur and Ashayo discuss another week of playing World of Warcraft, Blizzard's great MMORPG.

What We've Been Doing:

Aprillian

Decided to quad box in Hellfire Blood Furnace. Took time for the non flyers to get to the instance. Stupid Fel Orcs kept mind controlling my Succubus. Ended up having to stop halfway through. Had big decision to make, do dailies and make the journey back to the instance, or skip them. Spent the whole week going back and forth.

Felt Good getting my bank over 2000g. With my main Bank Alt selling most of the stuff he had and the money I got from selling pets, I was able to get my money back up. He also sold a bunch of enchanting stuff from my Enchanter.

Thursday night took Aprillian and Epril over to Dragonblight so I could do the cloth cool downs. Then back to Hellfire

Ashayo

Oracles - Cobra

Asheal - VoA - Got tier chest piece

Asheal - hit 445 tailoring - Glacial Bag 22 slot - 800g

Levelling Anomander - Got to 68, headed to Northrend and got all the flight points.

Heroic Oculus - Trying for achievement with just bronze drakes (dps) - no heals or tank. Close (500k), but no cigar.

Flasks - 2 for 1hr instead of 1 for 2hrs - one word : "Granularity". Waste to take a 2hr one if 1/2hr left of raid schedule.

Paid transfers are down.

Alliance of Aus 3rd birthday ; drinks, lottery, costume comp, darts, hide& seek - winner!

Glanthur

Changed guilds

Worked on dailies for Arlaerus and Glanthur

Glanthur got Crossbow skills and is now geared to play with the big boys and girls

Bladed Edge

The Bladed Edge

Hey all, Blade here...

In this trying time of collapsing financial markets one thing has grabbed my attention... two actually...
Now this isn't meant as an addon plug or anything... just my casual observations...
See... with the help of a guildie (Miy) I finally figured out some bonus features of the new(er) Auctioneer addon... and it's made a world of difference to auctioning...
Two things... one. There's a double-arrow at the top of the auction screen when you talk to an auctioneer with your addon loaded... this is your 'quick scan' feature... what *used* to take twenty minutes or more is now done in three... that makes the process *SO* much faster, it isn't even funny. I literally hop onto my banking alt, check his mail, scan the AH (called the 'getall' feature), put whatever didn't sell back onto the AH and log in about five minutes or so.
Second... the Appraiser function. It's the button at the bottom of the window. It shows you (on the left) a list of all the stuff in your bags... and as you click on each item, the display will show you how many items are currently on the AH (thanks to your getall scan mere moments ago) and will suggest a price for your items... it ALSO lets you change your stack size (if you want to sell stuff in less than full stacks) and allows you to select less than your total number of items... if you're clever, you won't glut the market with tons and tons of items... less of your items up on the market gives you a better chance of selling them at a reasonable price, believe it or not. Put your stuff up there a few at a time... cause you KNOW someone's gonna undercut you in an attempt to sell her... I mean *their* items instead.

And... Altoholic... By the Beard of my old Uncle Throgg is this a useful addon!
Everything is there for my alts... how long they've played, how much money they have, what's in each of their inventories, in their banks, what they're wearing, their professions (which are even linkable into chat, so I can instantly answer someone's request for a Master Blacksmith, even if I'm not playing my smith at the time). Now that I have it, I cannot imagine not using it.
Ol' Blade loves it, he does.

Onward!

From the Dirty Little tricks Department...
Let's talk super-combos...
There's a reason Mages are both hated and so often the target of "QQ-nerf-Mages-QQ" forum threads...
Here's one you probably already heard of... everyone must have used this one... I know *I* did...

#showtooltip Pyroblast
/cast Presence of Mind
/cast Arcane power
/use 13
/use 14
/cast Pyroblast

Pretty self-explanatory... Presence of Mind makes it intant, Arcane Power ups the damage significantly and Pyroblast... well... it's a one-shot 'hey-how-ya-doin-oops-I-done-

blowed-you-up' macro... enjoy!

And here's one that wowwiki supplied (props to the writer)... Ol' Blade loves his Frost Mage...

/script UIErrorsFrame:Hide();
/console Sound_EnableSFX 0
/use 13
/use 14
/cast Icy Veins
/cast [nopet] Summon Water Elemental
/cast [pet] Freeze
/petattack [target]
/console Sound_EnableSFX 1
/script UIErrorsFrame:Clear();
/script UIErrorsFrame:Show();

As an aside, all the /script functions block any error messages from suddenly popping up and ruining your 'Ultra-Combo!'
It's a bit tricky to pull off... the first click pulls out your Water Elemental, pops one of your trinkets and casts Icy Veins... the second press of this rather convoluted macro pulls up the targeting reticule for your pet's Freeze attack and set your pet to attack your target. Here's where it gets tricky. As quickly as possible tap the mouse button to drop your pet's Freeze attack, then cast your Frostbolt, followed rather rapidly by your Ice Lance.
The end result? At *least* two attacks that have a rather large chance of critting... if you're lucky, you might be able to squeeze out a second Ice Lance... adding it all up, and assuming all your spells crit, you should be able to drop any enemy of your level with this macro. If you don't, you still have your *own* Frost Nova in reserve... which will net you another chance at a Frostbolt + Ice Lance critical combo.

Moving on...

From Ol' Blade's Easter Egg Basket...
Mrs. Blade and I recently sat down and pulled a bit of a marathon... watched all six Star Wars movies over two days... well... that's not quite correct... we slogged through the first (meaning the latest) three, then sat back and cleansed out minds with the original three.
It seems some folks at Blizzard are quite the fans as well... from the obvious weapons-that-look-like-lightsabers (the Argent Avenger, the Blade of Wizardry and Teebu's Blazing Longsword for example...) to the not-so-obvious... but once you find them, you wonder how you didn't catch them earlier:
- Upon death, and if they spent their talent points correctly (Tier 5 in the Holy tree), a Priest can become the Spirit of Redemption, which is a feature in which the Priest (if struck down in combat) can continue to heal for 15 seconds or so before actually dying. The spell description reads "You have become more powerful than anyone can possibly imagine".
Obi-Wan Kenobi uttered very similar words to his pupil Darth Vader in Star Wars IV: A New Hope... "If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine..." moments before Vader strikes him down.
Of course... he didn't appear as a Spirit Healer that way a Priest character will...
- For you Alliance types... in the same movie, a young (and whiny) Luke Skywalker utters a line to his uncle: "But I was going to Toshi Station to pick up some power converters!"... conveniently, the Alliance area known as Toshley's Station in Blade's Edge Mountains has a conveniently labelled quest for him... I mean you... "Picking Up Some Power Converters".
- Also in the Blade's Edge Mountains is another NPC (R-3DO) a cute reference to the to droids R2-D2 and C-3PO. When spoken to, it states that it knows "more than two languages", a reference to 3PO's oft-repeated phrase of "I am fluent in over six million forms of communication."

As always, an awesome podcast guys!

Loremaster Blade

Gear Questions

Questions from last week:

Email A from Jason

Hello all,

I'm very much a latecomer to WoW. I signed up for the free trial on 22
October 2008, and have been playing ever since... hard to believe it's
only just coming up on five months! Back on 30 January, my druid
dinged 80; I then rolled a dwarf hunter, who dinged 80 yesterday. I've
also got a human mage who's sitting at 70; he's my oldest toon which
I've been leveling with a friend, so play time is limited to when we
can get together online.

All my toons are still equipped with quest rewards. I've never run an
instance, so have had no opportunity to pick up purples. I've worked
out that the only (apparent) way to get the really good stuff is to
join a guild and start raiding... though that seems a little
problematic, as my gear is not good enough (it seems) for even the
easiest instances that people are still running.

Anyway, I was very much relieved when Aprillian indicated she was in a
similar situation. I'm not the only one!

I'd like to take you up on your offer to provide gearing suggestions
for listener toons--I realise that you'll probably get quite a few
such requests, so I won't mind if I miss out. My druid is the one I
want to gear up for raiding; he's currently feral-spec'd, though I'll
probably dual-spec him as resto when patch 3.1 comes out (meaning I'll
need two sets of gear... sigh).

http://www.wowarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Proudmoore&n=Aeonel

I really enjoy listening to you three discuss your experiences
in-game; it's amazing how many useful tips turn up when one of you
mentions something in passing. Count me as another dedicated (if
late-arriving) listener!

Best regards,
Jason.

Email B from Ginsue

Aprillian,

I love you but my dear you are a noob. I say this in the kindest way possible.

We all start out as noobs and I think your altaholism has contributed to this for you. You really should gear up one of your toons and see some end game content, even if its just the 5 mans and heroic 5 mans. You need to join a supportive guild and try to stay out of the guild drama. They all have some.

Take heart there is a cure. Ashayo is correct about wowwiki.com is a great place to start to find out how to play your toon and what types of stats you should be looking for. For your hunter you need AP and AGI first and some intel for mana pool. If you hover over each stat on your gear window it will tell you what each one does for you.

Once you get a better understanding of your toon try checking out www.elitistjerks.com they have everything you would want to know and then some.

Once you figure out what stats you need go to www.wow-loot.com. They have done a great job with loot. You can sort by class. Then you can look at where your loot drops or what rep factions you need to get your loot. There is a tab to change it over to heroic mode for the instances as well.

Since you are a HUGE podcast star I'm sure an Earthen Ring guild would love to have you. If not transfer to Anub' Arak and we (Warpath) will take you. Once you are in a good guild and spend some time on vent with good well educated wow'ers you will learn a lot.

When you run instances that you do not know. You will screw up. You will cause wipes. We all have and we will again. That's just part of the game so don't be worried.

Email me with any questions you have and I will try to help. I have been playing for a few years now and I don't have all the answers but I know where to find them.

Good luck this week in Kara and as always "Happy Hunting".

Ginsue

Ginsue Part 2

More hunter info

Well met, guildmates Aprillian, Ashayo and Blade!

Greetings and Salutations, Glanthar of the Alliance.

Just finished listening to 107 podcast from Monday and wanted to fire off my response to the request for how we’re blundering through WoW with our gear and/or gaming as a casual player.

You’ll find Eranth on the Armory here: http://tinyurl.com/Eranth

You can find my Be Imba! Report here: http://be.imba.hu/?zone=US&realm=Earthen+Ring&character=Eranth

I’d add a link from http://www.wow-heroes.com, but I can’t seem to find a way to do that, but it looks like my score is 1195 there. I think I need some minor upgrades on enchants there, but right now I’m so casual, I’ve been just buying them off the AH, so I’m getting items that score 12 instead of 15 on that scale. I need better trinkets and rings.

You might also want to look at http://gear-wishlist.appsot.com/ for upgrades on gear. Eranth can be reviewed at: http://gear-wishlist.appspot.com/wishlist?character=eranth&realm=earthen+ring&region=us&site=Wowhead with the Wowhead settings.

This really leads me into this question: Has anyone collaborated on some sort of ‘guide’ on how to play a class for the casual player, in a sort of step-by-step manner how to gear up after you hit 80? I’ve seen guides, even generic ones, to get you to 80 pretty quickly, which a guide from http://www.wow-pro.com/ to give me a jump start, which I liked. http://wow-pro.com/leveling_guides/james_horde_leveling_guide and there’s an Alliance one there too. I still point people at those guides if I’m asked. But, now that I’m 80, as Aprillian says, I’m going to have to go do some more research about what I should be doing to gear up, to be ready, to improve myself for the end-game.

I occasionally get to do some Heroic runs, and I always start by letting people know if, or how many times I’ve done something, because I don’t want folks to be frustrated if I make a mistake. I just want them to tell me so I don’t repeat it, and hope that I don’t make us wipe! As most of the runs I make are guild-based, with just a little PUG added if we need it, then that’s usually not a problem. I do love to run with guildmates. It makes it so much easier to sort out loot, ask questions, etc. But, I could go on about that. I just want to not be in a position as I get to do Heroic runs, that I’m the reason we can’t put someone down because I’m ill-geared. Thus, some sort of end-game guide for classes would be a really useful tool. But, I also know that as a casual player, I’m not the one who could really put something like that together.

I look forward to your input if you have any for me. Always happy to take constructive suggestions!

Keep up the good work!

“Be well…”

Eranth

Beastmaster Hunter of AIE

Email D from Keelhaul

Hi guys. Great show last week as usual. I am glad that my little intro guide to dual boxing has helped a couple of people. In game I have been splitting time between my Tauren Druid who is now level 79 and my Dorf Hunter who is 80 and working on his Oracle rep. I think I have about one more sweep of dailys on him until he is revered and can start buying eggs!!

Thank you so very much on the cooking daily tip about looking for the half empty wine glasses in the dalaran sewers, that has made that quest so much easier for me. It was my least favorite since I also had difficulties clicking on the glasses like Aprilian. Now make sure you remove that tip from the archives and dont tell anyone else :D

During the week I usually only have time to do a handful of dailys before I start the day off getting the kids ready for school and heading off to work. The weekends are normally my days to explore dungeons. Last weekend I was able to run two instances on my Tauren Druid. He is feral so I typically tank. The first one we ran was Gun'Drak, which I had ran before on my hunter but the second was the Oculus. I have heard alot of folks complain about this instance in guild chat, but I ran it on a PuG and we had a blast. I thought it was very cool fighting on dragons! I hope they add more instances like this into the game.

Thanks again for the great show.

-Keelhaul

Email E from Caydyn

Hi Aprillian, Glanthur and Ashayo. I want to start off by saying that I love your podcast. I have a wierd work schedule so I can't listen live most times but I enjoy listening to the archive while I am sitting on the river bank grinding my fishing and cooking :) I have the same alt addiction that you all have and was thinking it would be helpful to get some group therapy. Have you ever thought of picking a server and starting a Ctrl Alt WoW guild for your listeners? I think it would be a lot of fun to get together with other people who are into the alt thing and who listen to the show each week. Thanks for the good commentary and keep up the great work.

Caydyn (Kay-Den)
Altar of Storms

PS Grats to Aprillian for the Kara run :)

Email F from Valathilia

Hello guys and happy early birthday April :)
Valathilia here
Ok so latly I haven't been able to play any of my alts there just boring :(
But I do have a interest in a holy pally or restro shaman
Which should I choose? They both seem like fun but I can't decide which to lv. Any pointers?
Great podcast guys
For the horde
- Valathilia

TWEETS

Xandarr2112@Aprillian @Ashayo @CtrlAltWoW what RP alliance server is Glanthur on?

http://www.wowarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Perenolde&n=Chilie

Hey guys, Xandarr again. You mentioned in your last podcast that you would take a look at toons and double check our gear and such. So here is one of my main alts. Could you help me give her a beastmaster makeover?

Emails

Audio Submission:

Well met Guildmates Aprillian, Ashayo and Blade!
Greetings and Salutations, Glanthar of the Alliance.

I thought perhaps I should take a moment and contribute a brief bit of audio for those who have wee-ones, little mini-moo's as I like to think of them being of the Tauren race.

This is sometimes called "Night Time Lullaby" and the tune may be familiar, but the words are more in a Tauren way of thinking, at least to my mind. Something more simple, something in tune with nature and a quiet life.

"Be well..."
Eranth
Beastmaster Hunter of AIE

Email #1 from MO

Hello gang,

sorry I have not emailed the last few weeks. With work and last week going to Vegas to spend my gold, I mean money, it has been a busy few weeks.

I have unfortunately not been playing much wow either but would like to write to you about your last cast, ep 108.

Aprillian, you are so right, in that this game is to have fun. I think we all know that we all are different people and have different playing styles.
I also like to believe we should all respect each other that way.
I too like to mainly solo and do at times enjoy start leveling a new character from level 1.
It would be great if I could raid but for me so far that has not been the fun part of the game.

Also if you do not have this addon, i recommend it.
RatingBuster, there may be other addons similar to it, it basically shows you stats on your gear.
if you have ever looked at BRK's site, you will notice when he used to post pictures of his gear, it would have stats on the bottom too.
oh and sorry to see you go BRK and we will all miss you.

well thats all wowfolks, i have a month left on my raf and hope to have alliance characters to 60 and Glanthur you should definetly level hord; you are always welcome to Balanzzar, a very low and dying realm.
you wont have a sugar daddy but you will have mo your podcast friend who can lend some bags and instance run throughs, just let me know, you can look up the Uptown Tavern guild.

Take care all and thank you for your great work Aprillian, Glanthur and Ashayo.

--
Mo

Email #2 From Eranth

Well met guildmates Aprillian, Ashayo and Blade!

Greetings and Salutations, Glanthar of the Alliance.

I wanted to drop Aprillian a note after listening to the last podcast. I thought I’d share my feelings on getting to group up with other folks from the Guild to do instances, heroic runs, etc.

While I’ve not had enough time in one sitting to run a Raid with the guild, (or anyone else), I’ve had several occasions to get to group up with other Guildmates to run Heroic and non-Heroic instances in Northrend. Your experience isn’t unique! I’ve even had the chance to be the one to pull everyone together, then pass off leadership of the group because I just tell folks up-front, I’ve run this instance X-times, or not at all. I’m happy to follow direction, take instruction and do as I’m told! I also ask for everyone to remember that I’ve not run a lot of instances, and I will make mistakes. I’m happy to go full-tilt-boogie through and work for time. I profess to be a DPS Beastmaster, but I’m not going to say I’m the top-of-the-damage-meter guy. My setup isn’t perfect, and I’ve sent in what I have for my character previously.

I think it’s really awesome that we have a guild that’s filled with folks who help us experience things in instances and have no qualms about letting you take the good loot, ‘cause they’ve already had their drink at the fountain. Share and share alike. You’ll get to pass it forward some day too. I could gush and go on for longer, but you and other guildmates know what I mean.

Now, Ashayo…you’re luck with random dice rolls is JUST like mine. I rarely roll high, I almost ALWAYS roll average when I throw them bones. And I’m a tabletop gamer from way back. It doesn’t seem to matter what sort of ‘dice’ I use, I either throw very poorly, right down the middle, or on the very rare occasion, I get the top of the roll several times in a row…then it’s done for a long while. We need to get Aprillian to blow on those dice before you roll them. ;-)

I’ll be looking forward to your input on folks in the 109 show!

“Be well…”

--Eranth

Beastmaster Hunter of AIE

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Ctrl Alt WoW Episode 108 - April's Fool Day not April the Fool

Aprillian, Glanthur and Ashayo discuss another week of playing World of Warcraft, Blizzard's great MMORPG.

What We've Been Doing:

Aprillian

Just remembered why I've been doing Dailies from Shat, it's because I can fly in Outland.

Sunday Back in Northrend. Brought Aprillian, DK twins and Auruk to Agramand where they did quests. Then took Tiiaa and Epril took Maradaun for Tiiaa's Mage Quest.

Sunday night raided.

Spent crazy time finding gems for Aprillian

Monday, had a blast quad boxing. Got back to Dal and Auruk got to 400 in cooking and had 35 cooking awards so got to buy a bunch of recipes.

I know for a fact I am never going to be perfect, in my Real Life and in WoW. One of the things i've done in both is settle for just having a good time and being happy. I like to think I've done that well. Last week I got kind of a wake up/slap in the face call when I was called out on my gear. I freaked out and then after the Kara run, I went crazy looking stuff up online and trying hard to figure out the best enchants. But I feel like I'm wasting valuable time.

Woke up Thursday morning with an epiphany. I was having fun and that's all that matters. I'm not going to worry about the gear on my Hunter, he's just an alt and I'm leveling him with two DK's. I'm not going to worry about gear until and if I'm doing in game content.

Finally got around to taking Auruk to the trainer and got some new stuff, including Snakes!

Listening to BOE, very funny. Auruk got his first Artic Fur, woohoo. He got his LW to 390 and is sending all of his stuff to Primall for DE'ing.

Thu morning ran the Twins and Auruk around Howling Fjord, mainly to kill Shveltusk. Thurs evening I took Aprillian around for the CD on cloth in Dragonblight, she brought Epril with her who is getting closer to dinging 70

Friday morning in Howling Fjord triple boxing to do the JC daily, Auruk did the cooking daily, Legermain, way easy. Auruk earned the Chef de Partie Achievement, 75 cooking recipes.

Listened to BOE on the way to work and then Videogames and Despair.

Epril hit 70 in Northrend. Went back to Shat to get the Flight Quest. I had to take Priimall to Shadowmoon Valley to help Aprillian and Auruk summon Epril. Thank you Hallow's Eve. Almost emptied the bank getting the 900g for training and mount. Then she and Aprillian went flying. Follow is iffy. Spent 1000g

Got the authenticator on my iphone. Deauthorized the fob, sending it to

Took Mi, my bank alt, to og and AH'd whatever I could. Tiiaa, my mage, went shopping for pets and moved them over to the ally side, charging 5g a pet to move money back over. Got my gold back up over 1000g but it still hurts and I've got two more ready to ding 70.

Did the Mustard Dog cooking daily on Auruk and got [Recipe: Stormchops] in his bag

Ashayo

Oracle eggs - 1 x White Tickbird Hatchling, 1 x yolk.

Hiide - Old Kingdom
Jekle - DTK
Dual boxed Jekle and Hiide in Azjol Nerub - intense!
Jekle dinged 75

Culling of Stratholme Drake run
- Ran out of time. First time tanking Blackangel. Did great to complete it!
- Ionnianna (passed on his Paladin, Alithia), so I finally won reins of the bronze drake!
Shoutout to Kiele and Grandours for healing and tanking.

Raiding with Aprillian
- Karazahn, Gruul's Lair and Magtheridon all in one night!
(Awesome healers in Gruul's - DBM wasn't working, so had to heal through nova)

Thanks to the DwP team beautiful crew

Tarqq (Druid tank)
Solador (dirty stinkin' fan of knives tossing Rogue)
Ostira (Mage - cheats at achievements! Got "Intense Cold" by being dead.)
Molsan (Paladin tank)
Sigurn (Holy Paladin)
Elimmile (Resto Shaman) (aka Retsmile)
Westleeyy (Hunter)

DwP making Naxx progress. Getting OS, VoA and one quarter down in a couple of hours. Had our first crack at 4-horsemen this week. Most of us hadn't seen it before, and although we only tried 2-3 times, got the first two bosses down to about 40%. Actually stayed alive during Gothik The harvester this week!

( OS - rolled 100 on Satchel of spoils - and Solador did too. Won on reroll. woot!)

Asheal has done some healing on raids with another guild. 25-man Obsidium Sanctum and 10 man Naxx, where I got an epic chest upgrade. woot!
Healed Heroic Nexus - Lanc, Onassi, Johnni, Deadlyvyv
Normal Gundrak ; Deadlyvyv tanking!

Questing in icecrown
- King of the mountain. Jumpbot - FUN
- Quests out of The Shadow vault
- Take control of an Ebon watcher (shade type monster) and quest in a quarry. Pain for dual-boxing because only 2 of the 3 count when done on 1st toon.
"From Whence they came" - banishing scourgestone has to be done per toon.
- Lithe Stalker - fun jumping up mountains.
- 5-man "Battle at Valhalas" - "ring of blood" style series of fights. 3-manned with a DK. Fun fights.

Achieved [Icecrown: The final Goal] - 140 quests.

Howling Fjord - Stuck on 104/105. Eventually found Old Icefin, a murloc off Chillmere Coast.

Achieved [Loremaster of Northrend]

April Fools raid - Got SW boss to 3%

Glanthur

Ran Obsidium Sanctum 10-man on Glanthur and Arlaerus, VoA, and did the construct quarter with another guild on Glanthur. Got a new helm. Woo hoo!

Arlaerus is almost revered with Sons of Hodir

Decided not to buy Kirin Tor ring and got 2 bags from Haris Pilton instead - only 8 valor emblems away from awesome ring

Professions finally maxed out on both Arlaerus and Glanthur

Played Hrond on Wildhammer where a co-worker is leveling an undead warlock

Bladed Edge

The Bladed Edge

Hey all... Blade here...

It's funny how real life rears its ugly head now and again to prevent one from playing during one's regular times... so I found myself coming in and playing either really late or really early.
During one of such times this week, I was able to participate in a truly landmark event... Aprillian's taking down Gruul *and* Magtheridon!
For such an event, I dusted Ol' Blade off and brought him out in all his rogueish finery, and dps'd.
I'm willing to bet I wasn't doing *nearly* as much damage as some of the heavy-hitters that were there, but I'd bet I do a respectable amount... and now having both tanked and dps'd Gruul and Mags, I stand by my previous comment. DPS is *easy*.
And... last I saw... Aprillian was level 72! Grats!
Gogogo! You're almost high enough for Violet Hold and Gun'Drak!

From the Dirty Little Tricks Department...
This week it's all about mana preservation... not that I'm yet concerned on my Mage... but I know some raids are time-intensive... and if you can have an edge (like an extra source of mana replenishment) then you don't have to be so frugal with your spellcasting... one extra heavy-hitting spell may be all it takes.
This one uses the mana gem you have in your inventory, and casts your preferred mana gem if you don't have one. Be aware (I'm sure if you play a Mage, you're *already* aware) that since 3.0.8 Mana Gems are 'Unique 1' meaning you can only have one in your inventory, full stop. Also... for varying levels of Magi... Patch 3.0.2 has Blizzard changing all the casting names of the various levels of gem (Citrine, Ruby, Emerald, etc.) to read 'Conjure Mana Gem'... so it doesn't matter which gem you use, the spell will choose your highest-level one for you. Simply change the name of the actual Mana Gem (in lines 1 and 2) to the one you're using at your level.

#show Mana Ruby
/use Mana Ruby
/cast [nocombat] Conjure Mana Gem

Here's another one for higher levels (and it's correspondingly convoluted as a result)...

/run for b=0,4,1 do for s=1,GetContainerNumSlots(b),1 do local n=GetContainerItemLink(b,s) if n and string.find(n,"Mana Emerald") then PickupContainerItem(b,s) DeleteCursorItem() end end end
/cast Conjure Mana Gem

What's it do?
Finds your current Mana Emerald in your inventory for you... and if it has less than 3 charges, tosses it out and casts a new one. This macro is more for 'preparation' than anything else... 'buffing up' so to speak... Ol' Blade doesn't quite have the technical acumen to combine those two macros into a workable one-button super-mana-gem macro... if anyone else does, then by all means toss me an email - the credit (and the kudos) will be yours!

thebladededge@gmail.com

From Ol' Blade's Easter Egg Basket...
This one's a two-parter...
Back to Shattrath with you... I'm sure by now, everyone has (at very least) seen the Alliance Battlemaster by the name of 'Adam Eternium' - a not-so-subtle reference to the Masters of the Universe character 'He-Man' (real name Adam). His companions reinforce this reference - a green battle-tiger pet (Cringer or Battle-Cat from the series) and a Gnome associate named Oric Coe (Orko the magician).
When you talk to him, Adam has the following to say:
"I came to Outland hoping to discover powerful artifacts to assist the League of Arathor against the Defilers in Arathi Basin... but all I've found is this smashing magical loincloth, a ridiculous gnome sidekick, and an egomaniacal undead stalker who insists I've stolen his grey skull, or some such. In any case, would you care to join the League in their fight while I continue my search?"
Keldor the Lost (the Horde Battlemaster and counterpart to Adam Eternium) continues the reference. "Keldor" was apparently the identity of He-Man's arch-nemesis, prior to his transformation into the evil Skeletor. Kedor the battlemaster's hood, glowing eyes, dark blue attire, skull-tipped staff and undead face all help to hammer this reference home.

And in continuation of the Star Wars references...
I missed something in The quest "Picking Up Some Power Converters". The quest itself will reward you with a Power Converter. The two descriptions on the item itself are both references to Episode IV: "Use: Destroys technological terror constructs." is from Darth Vader's quote "Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed," and "The next best thing to going to the Academy" is because Luke's always talking about going to the Academy. The Power Converter shoots off a red rocket that many think looks like the missile Luke fires to destroy the Death Star.

As always, an awesome podcast guys!

Loremaster Blade

Emails

Email #1 Karen *

Hey everybody,

My hunter Elsa made 80 a week ago, which was cool. But my niece left her raiding guild and joined a new one, so no raiding for me, yet. Instead I'm working on my rep to get the recipe for the motorcycle. Of course, it would go faster if I was running instances, so maybe I'll try a pug (shudder).

Even though we haven't been running heroics, we've been having fun 3-manning the 5 man instances in BC. My husband's level 80 Hunter brings his ape, Spike. I take my level 62 Paladin (who just re-specced holy) and our guildmate brings her level 62 frost mage. We've done Ramparts, Blood Furnace, Slave Pens and Underbog. Next up: Mana-Tombs and the rest of the BC instances. The group works well and we're looking forward to seeing how far we can go. Of course, I'm still learning how to heal as a paladin. I do fine keeping the tank up, but our mage has died a couple of times. I just wasn't fast enough to get her bubbled when she drew aggro.

Finally, a question for you three. I've recently started an office job (after 15 years working for myself out of my home), which is great, but I have a lot less time to play WoW. When you find yourselves with limited wow time, what do you spend it on? The answer probably varies with your mood, but I'm trying to decide how to spend my time on my 6 main alts and still feel like I'm getting something done.

As always, the podcast is excellent. Since I'm commuting, I have more time to listen to my ipod, so keep the podcasts coming. I agree that having all three of you together is the best possible situation, but if splitting time means that I get to hear from everyone, I'm happy with that.

Karen

Email #2 from Jason

Hello all,

I'm very much a latecomer to WoW. I signed up for the free trial on 22
October 2008, and have been playing ever since... hard to believe it's
only just coming up on five months! Back on 30 January, my druid
dinged 80; I then rolled a dwarf hunter, who dinged 80 yesterday. I've
also got a human mage who's sitting at 70; he's my oldest toon which
I've been leveling with a friend, so play time is limited to when we
can get together online.

All my toons are still equipped with quest rewards. I've never run an
instance, so have had no opportunity to pick up purples. I've worked
out that the only (apparent) way to get the really good stuff is to
join a guild and start raiding... though that seems a little
problematic, as my gear is not good enough (it seems) for even the
easiest instances that people are still running.

Anyway, I was very much relieved when Aprillian indicated she was in a
similar situation. I'm not the only one!

I'd like to take you up on your offer to provide gearing suggestions
for listener toons--I realise that you'll probably get quite a few
such requests, so I won't mind if I miss out. My druid is the one I
want to gear up for raiding; he's currently feral-spec'd, though I'll
probably dual-spec him as resto when patch 3.1 comes out (meaning I'll
need two sets of gear... sigh).

http://www.wowarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Proudmoore&n=Aeonel

I really enjoy listening to you three discuss your experiences
in-game; it's amazing how many useful tips turn up when one of you
mentions something in passing. Count me as another dedicated (if
late-arriving) listener!

Best regards,
Jason.

Email #3 from Ginsue

Aprillian,

I love you but my dear you are a noob. I say this in the kindest way possible.

We all start out as noobs and I think your altaholism has contributed to this for you. You really should gear up one of your toons and see some end game content, even if its just the 5 mans and heroic 5 mans. You need to join a supportive guild and try to stay out of the guild drama. They all have some.

Take heart there is a cure. Ashayo is correct about wowwiki.com is a great place to start to find out how to play your toon and what types of stats you should be looking for. For your hunter you need AP and AGI first and some intel for mana pool. If you hover over each stat on your gear window it will tell you what each one does for you.

Once you get a better understanding of your toon try checking out www.elitistjerks.com they have everything you would want to know and then some.

Once you figure out what stats you need go to www.wow-loot.com. They have done a great job with loot. You can sort by class. Then you can look at where your loot drops or what rep factions you need to get your loot. There is a tab to change it over to heroic mode for the instances as well.

Since you are a HUGE podcast star I'm sure an Earthen Ring guild would love to have you. If not transfer to Anub' Arak and we (Warpath) will take you. Once you are in a good guild and spend some time on vent with good well educated wow'ers you will learn a lot.

When you run instances that you do not know. You will screw up. You will cause wipes. We all have and we will again. That's just part of the game so don't be worried.

Email me with any questions you have and I will try to help. I have been playing for a few years now and I don't have all the answers but I know where to find them.

Good luck this week in Kara and as always "Happy Hunting".

Ginsue

Ginsue Part 2

More hunter info

Hello Aprillian,

We guys have a habit of trying to fix things so I have taken it onto myself to help you find more information to help you along in learning the things that every top notch, mob slaughtering hunter should know.

Being a podcast queen you have prolly heard about this already but, there is a podcast out there called "Big Red Kitty" and I think you will find it very helpful. The host talks a bit fast but he is very wise in the ways of hunters. The latest episode goes over the talent tree and hit rating cap. I haven't listened to a ton of them but it seems to be a very informative without a lot of the silly stuff you get from some podcasters. Not that thats all bad.

I hope the web page suggestions I sent were helpful.

I'm not looking to have these emails read on the show. These can be just between you and I. I figure the more informed you are the more informative you will be to listeners thus helping your podcast stay on which helps keep me from nodding off into the stuper that doing daily quests causes.

Keep up the great work an I will send you more info as i trip over it.

Happy Hunting,

Ginsue

Email #4 from Molsan*

Hey Aprillian and Ashayo:

It was a blast running Kara, Gruul, and Magtheridon with you both! We were able to finish all three raids in about two and a half hours. Hopefully the super-fast pulls, mass AoE'ing, and general wackiness didn't get in the way of you enjoying the dungeons, Aprillian.

So now that you've been bitten by the raiding bug, do you think you'll want to get to 80 and join us for Naxx? We typically have one spot reserved in our raids for a celebrity, but since Ashayo takes up that spot, we'll have to create a second one just for you.

I've been enjoying your recent episodes of Ctrl Alt WoW and I always learn something new after listening to your discussions.

For the Horde!

--Molsan

Email #5 from Eranth

Well met, guildmates Aprillian, Ashayo and Blade!

Greetings and Salutations, Glanthar of the Alliance.

Just finished listening to 107 podcast from Monday and wanted to fire off my response to the request for how we’re blundering through WoW with our gear and/or gaming as a casual player.

You’ll find Eranth on the Armory here: http://tinyurl.com/Eranth

You can find my Be Imba! Report here: http://be.imba.hu/?zone=US&realm=Earthen+Ring&character=Eranth

I look forward to your input if you have any for me. Always happy to take constructive suggestions!

Keep up the good work!

“Be well…”

Eranth

Beastmaster Hunter of AIE

Email #6 from Ivii *

Another tip for Glanther this week.

In episode 107 Glanther mentions that he wished there was a proto-drake that dropped. Skadi the Ruthless in Heroic Utgarde Pinnacle has a 1% chance to drop the Reins of the Blue Proto-Drake. This is the only place to get this mount.

Ivii - 80 DK in AIE on ER

Sent from my iPhone

Email #7 from Gothicplate *

I had the same issue with the Oracle egg but the message boards say you can still hatch it on the 7^th day. Mine said 4 days left on the 7^th day and mine still hatched. Have your friend try it anyway.

Later,

Gothicplate

Email #8 from Sevenonine/ Tajj*

Hey Aprillian, Ashayo and Glanthur,

In the last podcast you had a conversation about how it can be hard to concentrate on a certain
objective in wow especially for new players and how you choose gear for your alts. I am writing to say that I think
altoholism stems from the fact that wow has so many different ways to play and no way is more or less right that
all the others. Altoholics just want to experience all those different ways to play.

Personally I don't go out and read guides or web posts on how best to spec, I just goes with what
ever sounds good at the time or the talent that helps me the most in the way I play. As far as gear goes I dont
even look at the stats I go with whatever option has the highest armor number, I know probably not the best but
hey I dont go do extensive research on what is best for my class.

Maybe you could shed some light on the subject my main is a unholy death knight and I also play a Ret. Palidan.

Thanks for a great podcast!

Sevenonine/ Tajj

Email #9 from Keelhaul

Thanks again for the great show.

-Keelhaul

Email #10 from Caydyn

Hi Aprillian, Glanthur and Ashayo. I want to start off by saying that I love your podcast. I have a wierd work schedule so I can't listen live most times but I enjoy listening to the archive while I am sitting on the river bank grinding my fishing and cooking :) I have the same alt addiction that you all have and was thinking it would be helpful to get some group therapy. Have you ever thought of picking a server and starting a Ctrl Alt WoW guild for your listeners? I think it would be a lot of fun to get together with other people who are into the alt thing and who listen to the show each week. Thanks for the good commentary and keep up the great work.

Caydyn (Kay-Den)
Altar of Storms

PS Grats to Aprillian for the Kara run :)

Email #11 from Valathilia

Hello guys and happy early birthday April :)
Valathilia here
Ok so latly I haven't been able to play any of my alts there just boring :(
But I do have a interest in a holy pally or restro shaman
Which should I choose? They both seem like fun but I can't decide which to lv. Any pointers?
Great podcast guys
For the horde
- Valathilia

Email #12 from Xandar*

I ventured up to Ulduar and the Halls of Lightning the other day and to my surprise I was met by none other than Chester Copperpot from the great movie Goonies. Did you notice?

I was wondering if I might get a plug for my blog? With all the questions on Twitter if I am the same "Xandarr" from the CtrlAltWoW emails I have to laugh that I am already a little recognized. Thanks guys for reading the emails, and I just heard that authenticators are being pulled, so can I get the month of WoW or whatever else you might have instead?

You guys put on a great podcast, and I love it when all three of you are on together. Besides, Glanthur is outnumbered 2 to 1 on your show. How is that fair to the Alliance? We KNOW he can't possibly have more alts than you two combined... heck he probably doesn't have nearly as many as Aprillian.

--
Xandarr

http://twitter.com/Xandarr2112
http://theexperiencednoob.blogspot.com/

Thanks and Stuff

Thanks #1 from Ryan

Thanks for the awesome roll glanthur, and i would like the iphone gift card to get the app when it comes out. Thanks again for doing this great podcast and.... FOR THE HORDE!!!!

Pages

Monday, April 27, 2009

Ctrl Alt WoW Episode 112 - I'm Questing as Fast as I Can

What We've Been Doing:

Aprillian

Ashayo

Glanthur

Bladed Edge

Emails

Thanks & Stuff

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Ctrl Alt WoW Episode 111 - Pour One Out for the Quiver

What We've Been Doing:

Aprillian

Ashayo

Glanthur

Emails

Monday, April 13, 2009

Ctrl Alt WoW Episode 110 - You No Take Easter Eggs

What We've Been Doing:

Aprillian

Ashayo

Glanthur

Bladed Edge

Emails

For the alliance!

And a /cry my RAF ended last month.

Thanks and Stuff

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Ctrl Alt WoW Episode 109 - Gear Check Aisle 5

What We've Been Doing:

Aprillian

Ashayo

Glanthur

Bladed Edge

Gear Questions

More hunter info

Emails

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Ctrl Alt WoW Episode 108 - April's Fool Day not April the Fool

What We've Been Doing:

Aprillian

Ashayo

Glanthur

Bladed Edge

Emails

More hunter info

Thanks and Stuff