See Saz's blog for more information regarding the challenge!
13. A fond memory Shed a little tear, grin a little grin, and show us an image that invokes a fond memory for you.
I'm skipping a day, but worry not, I'll post that one later. I just happen to have this one ready. I couldn't decide between these two very different kind of moments, so "screw it", I thought. I think they speak for themselves.
See Saz's blog for more information regarding the challenge!
11. Profession of choice Show us an image of you doing what you like to do best.
Nicasia and her Frosty Flying Carpet.
My longest-running profession of all time is Nicasia's tailoring, but there's nothing that really makes it my favorite other than the memories. I ended up with that one, anyhow. Back when I hadn't yet purchased WotLK and was stuck at level 70, I hoarded as much cloth as possible, to level my future profession of tailoring that I chose for the flying carpets. My bank was filled with them, and as much as I wanted to make space, I refused to sell those stacks of cloth. When I could finally turn them into bolts, and bolts into tailored creations, I was relieved! I also remember checking the auction house regularly for good prices of golden draenite, until I had all four (I think!) that the first carpet required. Good times.
If I was to choose Nica's professions now, I wouldn't go with tailoring. I'd probably choose engineering, because leveling it is so much trouble and I wouldn't be arsed to do it on an alt. Generally I choose professions that fit the character RP-wise. That wasn't the case with Nica, but I've stuck with what I chose.
I just came up with a crazy idea that just might work.
Sorley, my demonology, and only, warlock, currently sits at level 50 and my leveling interest for him is moderate. I'm in no hurry to get him to 90, so I began to think what I could use him for. A certain title called Herald of the Titans popped on my mind. I never got to do it in Wrath of the Lich King and I think it's one of the most epic titles in the game. Considering my raiding experience as elemental shaman I'd only take on such a challenge as a damage dealer, so it's perfect. Sorley Sylvester, good sir, I trust you with this heroic task.
I realise this would be mighty impossible on my main realm Moonglade (EU), which is why OpenRaid is the way to go. I've seen several Herald of the Titans runs about, so I'm sure there will be some when the locky is 80. The actual challenge before Algalon is to get the gear, though, as I must acquire it from Wrath of the Lich King raids up to and including Ulduar.
Does anyone have interest in joining me for this challenge? It's definitely not a walk in the park, in fact I'm sure it'll be very difficult, but as I've now got the spark for it, I might as well ask if anyone would like to come along! Just to be clear, the base requirements are: a level 80 character with no items higher than Ulduar 10.
In loving memory of Matra, the author of Yömyssyt, my friend, who had no love for WoW, but who was always there for me, regardless of what time of the day it was. She even promised to read my blog despite her dislike for the game itself. We were brought together by Scorpions, so that's why the song. Much love, dear friend. You're engraved deep in my heart.
I've had a few things in my mind over matters like work and exams, so I think it's about time I presented them here. They're three separate things that have all taken brain space one way or another, some of them being inspiring, some worrying and some just stir paranoia in me. Perhaps all three for each!
I: One of the rogues
First thing is about my 85 rogue, Nikoleta. If you're interested, you can find the link to her Armory page on bottom left of the blog, where all the featured characters are listed. She was the second character that I leveled to maximum level, and I made her a rogue, because I liked my first rogue, but was a complete nabcake when I created her, so it wasn't all that great.
Nikoleta was supposed to be a Wastewalker bandit, but I never got around to RP her or come up with any sort of story for her. She just has a full name, and I know she has hazel eyes. Since mid-Cataclysm she's done nothing but grinded some valor points to buy BoE gear for my other characters and opened lockboxes. One day I got the idea of giving her a makeover of some sort. Make her male, perhaps (not like my character roster isn't full of male humans already), and obviously change the name if I did that. Now I don't even know if I'd play the character any more than I do now if I changed something about it. It's been proven multiple times but it still hasn't got through my thick skull: rogue is a class I really want to play, but it's just not meant for me.
Some months ago I deleted my first ever rogue that was also my first main character. I've had mild feelings of regret about it, since I begin to approve of the idea of paying for a character makeover. I could've made her that rogue I dream of, but can't be arsed to level anymore. Because I really don't enjoy leveling rogues. Yet I keep trying to do so. Gosh.
All in all, I think my fear of getting bored of WoW/my characters is greater than the actual danger of it happening.
II: Giving a voice
This is so very, VERY far in the future that I can barely see it! But still. Wouldn't it be cool? I mean, first I'd need to learn to edit audio properly. Probably get some sort of program, a voice changer, something like that. Most likely loads of programs. But I can dream, right?!
Basically I'd like to create examples of my characters' voices based on my own. Bring life to that unique way each of them speaks, with their own accent and tone of voice that currently only I can hear. I'm in fact quite very interested in voice acting, despite going a bit over my skill level with Ragnaros that one time... But I did Mannoroth, Illidan and Tyrande okay once, it's just that no one was there to hear it.
Inside my head they are so much more than just game characters; I think that's the ultimate reason why I find it so difficult to get tired of them.
III: The other life
Oh, there is one. There is one indeed. The thought of creating a blog about my real life has crossed my mind briefly, but there are so many things to it. The main reason to why my previous blogs sucked and have ceased to exist is that I can't come up with things to write about regarding my life or myself. Now it's true that my life has some happenings in it at the moment, but I'm still not sure if it's anything to write about. There are things I can't quite mention here on the Adventures, but I'm also not sure if I'd like to talk about them anywhere else either. Or if I'd like anyone to read about them.
I already stuff a load of music stuff here, in case you haven't noticed, so there would probably be even more of that in the personal blog if it existed. Gaming would also play a part, I'm sure. And studies. And non-driving. It would certainly be interesting to see how long I can come up with things to cover up my twisted mind! A major question is whether I'd write it in English or in my mother tongue, which is most likely unknown to the majority of this blog's readers.
How does all this sound? I need some help with this one. I don't know what to think about it.
I'm not much of a guide-maker, but this one... This I know how to do. I got super excited when I got the idea for it, and I hope not too many have got ahead of me.
You might have guessed it, but in case you haven't, here's the deal: the Klaxxi enchantments, those buffs provided by the Klaxxi that help you in the Dread Wastes, are all named after more or less iconic heavy metal songs. I've covered the list with links to the songs, so you can do your Klaxxi dailies with appropriate soundtrack!
Back to this challenge! I'm not yet very close to the end, but I've carefully kept my eye out for another challenge to accept once I'm done with this one. Are you hosting a challenge? Feel free to throw me suggestions!
See Saz's blog for more information regarding the challenge!
10. Your WoW crew Who are the people you hang out with day in and day out? Do you only
hang out with your raid mates? Do you have a small, tight knit group of
friends that you hang out with? Or are you a strange longer who just
hangs out with your pets?
I digged up some really old screenshots for this one! Enjoy!
A pre-Cataclysm hole!
I most likely wouldn't play WoW at all if it wasn't for that crazy drood. My bestest durid! We do loads of weird and crazy stuff together, and have fallen into a ton of holes (as you see above). Hearthstone is a good friend. Kidney is awesome!
Ehehehehahaahaahahheeihhhohihoh! I have much better pictures of Lanfranco, but I want to show him that I have a shot like this. Haha. The paladin in the background is a lovely one. Just look at his gear, it consists of like 333-346 blues. Man, that was long ago. It was also a very important time for me, because I stayed in a crappy guild for two reasons: to be in the same one with Kidney, as it is natural, and to be around Lan. I'm not sure if I've admitted that to him, but it was like that for a long time - it didn't end until we both got kicked... But that's a different story, heh. There's so much to say about him, so I'll summarise it like this: <3
You can also see Billx, a golden-hearted dwarven hunter in the shot. We recruited him to the guild when killing Omen that day. And nowadays he's with us in Menagerie.
You see a night elf death knight, too? That's weird, 'cause I don't.
Remember this, Mae?
The bear you see above is someone I know as Mae, our main tank for most of Dragon Soul and currently a very versatile personality. Despite everything I'm happy he's stuck with us. Sometimes it surprises me that he has. My journey with him is one of those weird chains that happened for an unknown reason, but I'm sure they were meant to happen.
I don't have individual screenshots of everyone I spend time with on WoW, so I'll just give a shout out to our whole raid group for being lovely and tolerating me. I love raiding with you, wiping with you and sharing the guild with you. You're the ones that made it our guild. And you guys are epic!
I hate explaining why I haven't updated in a while! They all sound like excuses for blog boredom, which they certainly aren't. I love the blog, but I've been horribly busy with my studies. I only have one exam to go this week, but a long work task waiting. Hrmph. Nica's valor cap for the week stood at an impressive 150/1000 - surprisingly I'm still one of the best geared people in the guild, with an item level of 471. Pure laziness does pay off, it seems.
This one goes for alts. I'm a real sucker for them and I have too many. Or maybe I've just simply had too much time. I'd like to introduce an older alt, who I was suddenly inspired to play again, and a new soul that's just joined the pack.
I don't need any knights, I don't need any engines of war
I will unleash all my spells, devastating your enemies' walls
But my help isn't free, you made a pact with darkness
Now I want what I need; your astral energy you will give
Don't be afraid; I will never take your soul
Now you are saved but your lifetime will be shorter
(Magic Kingdom - Evil Magician)
Sometimes during the later part of Cataclysm I created a warlock, whom I leveled up to 41 together with Lan's gnome mage. He is known as Sorley Harding, the Harvester, and it's fair to say that I've roleplayed his felhound Bruunam way more than him. He fascinates me, though. At some point I even considered deleting him, because I had absolutely no interest in leveling him. He was spared, because I was too fond of Bruunam. Although I don't hate leveling - and I've never hated it, in fact it's quite nice -, it was cool to "start" at 41 for a change.
Sorley's return must've got his demonic friend Kalna all dizzy, because her summoning disorientation was to last 15 days - along with her invisibility; I'm not sure what that refers to.
Bweath of the Dwago--!
Now, ladies and gentlemen, I present you with my ever so slightly monkish experiment, Jester Dragomirov. It's been noted around the guild that I've sort of made Russian-influenced names my "thing." As much as I'd like to talk about history here, I think it's better left out and just say that I like how they sound, so sexy and brutal! Oh, I might've said too much already.
Shortly put, he's a brewmaster monk that I am currently leveling mostly through quests to get comfortable with the rotation, then I'll hop into a few dungeons. Comrades, have your eyes and ears at the ready, for more in-character information about Jester is coming up in the future. I intend to really experiment with him.
Some time ago I also got Vlad to 90 and since then have geared up his blood spec before frost, although I think I'm supposed to be DPSing in raids! To tell you the truth, though, I'm not liking frost as much as I did in Cataclysm. The new 87 ability, Soul Reaper, feels extremely dull and lame. I tried using it while questing, and hardly had time to pull another mob until the effect had already fallen off. Losing a frost rune (cost varies by spec: blood for blood [rawr!], frost for frost, unholy for unholy) every now and then isn't such a big deal, I know, but still. My dislike for it isn't a surprise, though, because I'm generally not too fussed about execution abilties. Hammer of Wrath is a minor exception, though, I'm not sure why.
Blood, on the other hand... To me blood was extremely enjoyable in Cataclysm, but in Mists it's bloody (...yes) perfect! As blood, Soul Reaper is hardly essential, which adds to its niceness.
My real life alter ego, one that I created over a decade ago, likes to listen to Eros Ramazzotti and knows all the lyrics of the album Stilelibero despite never having studied Italian (yet! Rhapsody speak, I will learn you!).
Here's the final part of leveling screenshots with a few level 90 things included. There will be more of that: we're getting started with challenge modes and raiding, and I'm going to be doing more solo attempts with Vlad.
I don't like how I've been so unfair towards some zones, for example the Dread Wastes. It was there, in Klaxxi'vess that I hit level 90, but I only had one very bad screenshot from the whole zone. Hmph.
Hieno juttu, Hermanni!
Hieno juttu, Hermanni! II
My old enemy and I meet again... -- The moment you realise you've been running to the wrong direction the whole time.
Start of legendary thingies with Wrathion.
My overall feelings regarding leveling in Pandaria? I think it's been great. I've enjoyed the quests - of course not all of them, but generally. I'm not sure if the questing experience itself was anything awesome compared to, say, Cataclysm or WotLK. In fact I've never had anything against the start of Cataclysm. It was amazing. Then it got a bit... flappyfloppysloppy. And nothing can ever beat WotLK for me, so that's the end of that.
During my leveling process I really tried to get into the sha concept and realised that it's the worst possible enemy one could face - oneself. One's negative feelings in a physical form. The concept is definitely different from what we've seen previously, but not at all less devastating. And this, if something, isn't inspiring at all, right? Wink wink.
Now how do I go forward? I'm going to get into the legendary quest chain. I've been very lazy with it so far... We're getting into our raiding stuff in Menagerie and challenge modes with some. I'm leveling Vlad and Ral up to 90, then having a look at monk and other alts. I feel positive about the future, I think it's going to be good.
Thing is, Nicasia has been 90 for ages now, I've just been lazy with the blog and updating this leveling screenshot series. Anyways, here's part two with some shots that I chose among the bunch that I took!
Most of them feature my UI, but you'll just have to deal with it. I wanted to capture those moments as accurately as possible - not to mention as fast as possible. It's basically my first and therefore most memorable journey from 85 to 90 in the form of screenshots.
Menagerie "base" highlighted. :D
This is where our server froze.
This quest took me/us at least 30 minutes to complete due to server lag.
Angel of Death (Slayer)
Sometimes during the later part of Cataclysm I created a warlock, whom I leveled up to 41 together with Lan's gnome mage. He is known as Sorley Harding, the Harvester, and it's fair to say that I've roleplayed his felhound Bruunam way more than him. He fascinates me, though. At some point I even considered deleting him, because I had absolutely no interest in leveling him. He was spared, because I was too fond of Bruunam. Although I don't hate leveling - and I've never hated it, in fact it's quite nice -, it was cool to "start" at 41 for a change.
