Tyrk: Helping Each Other Out

So much has changed with our little Nation over months that I didn't blog much.  Mostly it's related to Mists' release.  I'm the only one of us that levelled to 90.

But we've been joined by a couple more Night Elves.  One is a Monk, a Brewmaster I guess, called Oldmanbadger.  Seems to really enjoy tanking.  He's also taken on being our Exodar server inscriptionist.  We're starting to fill up on that server, so anticipating that Oom is likely to retire eventually, Badger is going to be our alchemist, too.

Problem is, that Tabbykath will have to level up herbalism to feed him mats.  Which means her spending time levelling from mid 60s to, well, to 90, I guess would be easiest.  So she can fly around Pandaria.

Fortunately, being a leatherworker, I'm able to keep her pretty well geared up with hunter stuff for items she hasn't been able to find in dungeons while levelling.  Sometimes I wonder if it's worth it, though.  The time I spent in Zul'Gurub farming deepsea scales for a level 83 chestpiece . . . she could probably have reached level 85 and started collecting Panadaren gear.

Oldmanjack: Kiss my Axe

21 Vrykul archeology projects.  But I finally got it.   Given that it's been a while since Northrend was the cool place to be, let me tell you how cool it is to equip an ilvl 226 weapon at level 71.  ilvl 200 was entry level raid gear.  Level 80 raid gear.

I tell you man, it was tempting to search up a second.  But not tempting enough to actually spend that much more time searching through Vrykul towns.

Dounonurnese: Dude, where's my sword?

Don't get me wrong. I'm proud to be a Knight of the Ebon Blade. I am forever indebted to the Argent Dawn and the Light it serves for breaking the shackles of my servitude. I have no reason at all to complain about my treatment after Light's Hope Chapel and the Reclaiming of the Archerus. However, if I could have one oversight corrected . . . the only weapons made available to outfit ourselves were two handers.

Probably just the system, you know. Continuing the Lich King's own poor policy out of habit. I mean, we're all trained to dual wield. Those of us trained as Frost Knights can even choose early in our training to specialize in the style. Yet the only weapons provided under the Lich King were also two handers.

Really, it wouldn't bother me except that aren't many opportunities to obtain a good set of weapons. At Honor Hold I was rewarded for my first real task with a decent sword. But that's only one. I'd like a second before I head off to the battlegrounds. You know, just so I'm at my peak, right? The best option for that seems to be hanging out at the auction hall, hoping to find something affordable.

Avenyx: Professions

I've got some practice tanking in Northrend now. I've been to Utgarde Keep, Nexus, Azjol Nerub and the Old Kingdom. That gear I picked up in Outland just isn't quite as good as I'd like anymore. I've replaced most of it. Spent a lot of time smithing to learn to make a few of the replacement pieces myself. Best of all, I've learned to fashion sockets on my bracers and gloves and also how to cut some nice tanking gems to put in them.

My trinkets are getting pretty old, though. I'm working on jewelcrafting next to make a nice replacement for one.

Tyrk: Disappointment

The Blood Council drops a very nice polearm. So I was kinda stoked to take Oom's place raiding Icecrown this week for that fight.

Then we ran into a snag. You see, Oom is usually on disco ball duty. Kinda' makes sense for someone with multiple good DoTs. Every tick knocks the orb back up. So it's usually him, plus Sholandria and Finola helping out when she can conveniently get off shots on nearby orbs. Shol wasn't there this week. And with me taking Oom's place, that meant only Fin with any experience. Another hunter, Darkroney, was the only other ranged dps in the group and it was his first time in the fight.

So it didn't go well. Not to point fingers or place blame or anything. I mean, it was tough on Oom his first times through. It's counterintutive for dps to enter the fight and not try to kill the boss right? But that's what you do. For whoever is on disco ball duty, hitting the Blood Princes is secondary to watching for orbs, getting in range and keeping them off the ground. That takes some practice.

We wiped three times before deciding to let the main raiders back in. Then we beat it no problem.

And my polearm dropped.

Or Darkroney's polearm now, I suppose.

Nanisivik: Guildless

Getting a group together to go fight in the Amphitheater of Anguish has proven challenging. It was no problem at all for the rest of the Night Elf Nation, but then . . . they had strong support groups on their respective servers. They had guildmates. I, on the other hand, know one other person on Eldre'Thalas. The weapon I would like for now is a reward for becoming Champion of Anguish. That looks unlikely. Just one small drawback of being guildless.

Fortunately, I was able to find a matching set of hammers in Drak'Tharon Keep.

Avenyx: At Last

With the help of my brother, sister-in-law and a friendly rogue named Keilee, I finally got far enough through AQ20 that Lt. Gen. Andorov would sell me the design for my new shield. Also got lucky and picked up a fancy purple cloak.

Avenyx: In the Army Now

Have you seen how much a new set of plate armor sells for in the auction hall? You might be able to find a wolf set piece for 4 or 5 gold. A good bear piece, though, will get posted for at least 10 times that much. If you can find one there at all. I'm not paying that. I'm trying to save up for training a protection spec at the same time I'm going to want that new armor.

Fortunately, I have a couple of heirloom pieces. I picked up a helmet while fighting that lich over in Razorfen Downs. I'll be able to make my own leggings and gauntlets. To complete my set of plate armor, I've signed up for official soldier duty. Mostly I'm fighting the Orcs and their allies in Warsong Gulch. Sometimes I get sent to help out the Humans in Arathi Basin. Turns out the military outfits their warriors pretty well.