Day One: Midnight Swim

*Sparkie trots into the room with a rolled bit of parchment in his mouth*
*Midnight takes the parchment*
Spaz: "openitOpenitOPENIT!!!!"
Midnight: "Oh calm down you mangy git."
*Midnight pulls a knife from somewhere and cuts the binding of the letter*
Midnight: "Mmmm. Nicked my finger."
*Drops the parchment and puts finger in mouth, sucking contentedly*
*A picture falls out and Berry Blue picks it up*
Berry Blue: "Awww, will you look at that. Two loooovers..."

Day one finds us in Tanaris, going for a midnight swim. Hope all is well back at home. -Ful

The Ceremony

10 Minutes Before The Ceremony...

The Vows
Priest: "Do you, warlock, take this paladin to be your wife, to follow and to cherish, in disease and fully cleansed, as long as ye both shall have the ability to be resurrected?"
Fulguralis: "I do."
Priest: "And do you, paladin, take this roguish warlock to be your husband, to shield and to defend, in corruption and when soul stoned, as long as ye both shall have the ability to be resurrected?
Fuubaar: "I do."
Priest: "Really? I mean, he IS a warlock?"
*Fuubaar glares at the priest*
Priest: *holds up hands* "Fine, fine. Then by the Light, I do declare thee to be soulbound, for eternity. What the Light has joined, must no human, elf, dwarf, gnome, orc, draenai, undead, troll, tauren, dragon, random beast, plant creature, dungeon slime..."
Other Priest: "Skip a bit, brother."
Priest: "Right... What the Light has joined must no being separate!"

Introducing Mr. and Mrs.

The Proposal

Fulguralis: "Fuubaar, will you marry me?"
Fuubaar: "Of course!"
Fulguralis: "..."
Fuubaar: "..."
Fulguralis: "So, can I have my heart back now?"
Fuubaar: "That's not how it works. It's mine now."
Fulguralis: "Oh, I see. Can you at least set it on fire every now and then... for old time's sake?"
Fuubaar: "How's this?"
*Passionate Kissing*
Fulguralis: *blushes* "That'll work."

RL Achievement: "Goin' to the Chapel"

Well, I'm only two days away from becoming a married warlock. Things have really started to pick up (there are ALWAYS last minute changes/problems), but I'm really trying to put together something special to reflect the RL achievement. So, here's what you can expect...

Since I'm going to be ludicrously busy the next few days, and then on an unplugged honeymoon (wow, no electronics for a week? holy crap), I didn't want to just "afk" and leave y'all without something at least mildly entertaining. After all, life goes on for everyone else, right? In any case, the next seven posts will be picture posts, with hopefully a spot of humorous dialogue beneath semi-explaining the scene.

For all of next week, the theme is "Where would you go on your World of Warcraft honeymoon?" Now, we're not big RP'ers, but I thought it would be clever and kind of fun to pose this question to the community. What are, in your views, the most beautiful places in WoW? What are your top five? Where would you take your sweetie for a romantic getaway? Heck, where would you like to go yourself if it were real?

Look for our top five coming next week, one each day, and it'd be great to get some comments when I come back. Also, if any other bloggers feel inspired to write about the topic, I'd be happy to share it, and think it would be rather fun to find out where y'all would go. I'm hoping to be able to get great pictures and put in some dialogue and then schedule it all to go up. Last time I scheduled stuff... it didn't post, so if nothing happens, I apologize, but I tried and will retro-post upon my return.

Anyways, I just wanted to give you a preview of what's going to happen around here while I'm gone. I won't be replying to comments, but we'll certainly be reading them when we come back. Also, I'm hoping it's not too horribly dull, and I'll be back to regular writing after the much needed break.

The "B" Team

A few days ago I came across a rather interesting post on a rather interesting blog. The blog is Elder Game and is co-written by two MMO developers with impressive looking resumes. It's more of a general MMO blog and covers topics that are mostly about game design and decision making. It's a good read if such things interest you. The post is called "The Warcraft Live Team's B-Squad" and explores the thought that there are very likely some new hands at the helm of WoW.

As a gamer who also has a lot of experience with sports, both as a coach and a player, the concept of a "B-Team" of developers is quite funny, poignant, and, in this case, apt. You see, in the sporting world, the B-team is usually your group of younger, less experienced players that are hoping to one day make the A-team, which is exactly the description the author was making about the development teams of MMOs.

Contrary to popular belief, being on the B-team is not all bad. Sure, you didn't make the "best" team, but that's often because you're young and need more work on your game. A second team allows you to do this, often when the stakes aren't as high. Additionally, with lower stakes, a B-team can be more focused on "fun" instead of "winning". In some ways, you can almost get back to the basics with a B-team and really work on the fundamentals of the game without all the fluff that goes with the Friday night lights.

The post goes on to make several good points about what being on the B-team means as far as MMO development goes, and explains several signs that Blizzard may have turned the reigns over to these second-stringers. What do you think? Have they brought in the B-team? The C-team? The Z-team?

Personally, I have no problem with bringing in the B-team at this point. WoW is a mature game, and torches need to be passed since we don't all live forever. Getting younger developers some experience in developing and balancing a game like WoW is essential for the future of the genre. After all, the B-teams of today are the A-teams of the future. You just hope that your B-team doesn't completely blow the game for you. I think WoW may have enough of a lead over the competition, that you can safely write this one down as a "win" in the books, but that doesn't mean we don't want to see good play for the remainder of the game.

Still, perhaps we should cut the team some slack. After all, maybe many of them are learning more than we are at this point. Maybe some of us have been with the game longer than the man behind the curtain. If so, that certainly puts things in a different light, does it not?

In the end, we're still paying them and still are entitled to a quality game for our money and time investments, but has WoW made us all just a little be "l33tist" as far as game design and polish is concerned? Can we now never be satisfied with anything less than the "A-team"? If so, they might need a bigger van.

Portal Usage in 10-Man Ulduar Plus some Tips and Tricks

I went in for some extended raid time on Saturday in 10-man Ulduar. I pretty much haven't been able to do anything recently, but I found myself with a surprisingly free Saturday as Fuu was away getting girly stuff done to her in preparation for our upcoming vows, and I got my honey-do list done early. Wewt me.

As such, I thought I'd pass a long a friendly bulleted list of some tips and tricks I've been picking up in 10-man Ulduar. Feel free to add to it. I'll leave Flame Levi out, since I wrote another post about that here. Also, I'm going to be focusing more or Warlock Portal usage in my continuing crusade to justify it's existence, but I'll throw some other goodies in there as well.

• If you are the harpooner for Razorscale, our portal lends itself well to this. Stick it back by the 'poons and you can beat the blinking mage, the sprinting rogue, or the slightly hastening hunter. If you're affliction, it's not like you'll be hurting your DPS any on the add phase anyways, amirite?
• Speaking of Ms. Scale, there is a cleverly drawn circle in the center of her area. If you're a tank and kiting, use it. So much simpler to just DPS in the middle instead of trying to chase you all over the place.
• Your Doomguard has an AoE attack. If you pull him out on this fight, use it. Be warned though, pets forget to take their smart pills for this fight and tend to just run off and never be heard from again.
  
• Right before Ignis, there is trash. It is awful. Get over it and just run away from the whirlwind. Srsly, turn and run. The cake is a lie.
  
• For Ignis, if your tank can stand near a pond and just turn the bastard to the left and then right for the scorches, as a DPS you can just stay put and go to down on that middle line thingy in the room. This makes it cake for ranged DPS.
  
• On Ignis, use your portal to mitigate fall damage after the flame jets. Plus, you get to start casting a second before everyone else.
  
• Also on Ignis, if he puts you in the crotch spa, after you enjoy your soak, you can use your portal to quickly get back in position (and thereby not stand in the scorch and die).
• L is for Left and Light Bomb. R is for Right and Grrrrravity Bomb. Make sure to go 10 yards left and 15 yards right (if you all stack together in front, which is suggested)... or about four of the floor tiles to either side should make it safe, maybe five to the right.
• If you're doing the above for XT, then you can portal back to the stack spot. Not really a big deal here, but fun.
• If you're on add duty for XT, it may help to have your camera flip key bound to something so you can check behind you while doing things like "burning the heart".
• When fighting the black knight... I mean Kologarn, there isn't really a clever portal usage, but lining up in the back with your ranged folks makes stepping up and running left or right to evade the Cyclops attack more tolerable.
  
• Also on Kologarn, a great idea to tell your DPS folks: after the right arm dies, throw two spells of your choice on the body and then swap back to the adds. This assures that the OT has time to pick the kids up at the pool before you cannonball in.
• I hesitate to even talk about Auriayayaya (or Lady Gaga as I call her), because (not altogether unlike the artist) she drives me batty. Perhaps its her crazy clothes or the overeager... cats. Whatever the case, she annoys the crap out of me with her crazy fearing (hey, that's my ability you unwarlocky wench!) and her interrupts (why the hell can't I cast anything NOW)... BUT, you can use the portal to designate and return to a stacking spot in front of the harlot.
  
• If you're human, save your "every man" (or if you have a trinket) to exit from fear right before she runs you into that black hole sun of death. If you're a clothy, this can save you.
  
• I hate Auriaya, have I said that? It deserves it's own bullet. It's 90% pull, 10% positioning and ALL F you in the A as a caster. Other than that, it's a cake walk.
• That's about as far as we got. We took a couple of shots on the Iron Council, but not enough that I can give you something clever about it. Umm, does "don't aggro the dudes you didn't clear at the bottom of the stairs and get yourself killed" count? Yeah, don't do that. Not that I did or anything. (expletive deleted)

Hope you enjoyed this installment of the blind leading the blind and other exciting tales from abroad. As always, if you have anything to add, please feel encouraged to do so in comments. Thanks and see you next time!

The Drama Continues... Dramatically

Cast of Characters

Fulguralis, the warlock in love and our main character

Spaz, an Imp with a quick wit and a sharp tongue

Midnight, a succubus with an insatiable lust for pain

Berry Blue, the smooth talking, jazz loving walker of the void

Sparkie, a cute and lovable felhunter

DeeGee, a doomgaurd with a peculiar affinity for tiny underwear

Pablo, the fiery latino infernal

ACT I, SCENE I

(We see before us a jewelry store in the very heart of Dalaran. Fine wares line the storeroom displays, sparkling in the light. Fulguralis walks into the jewelry store and begins to browse through the items with his trusty Felpup, Sparkie plodding along quietly next to him, gazing at all the shining objects under the glass.)

Fulguralis

Well boy, I never thought I'd be here doing this. I mean, she already stole my heart, and now she wants my soul in a shard.

(Sparkie just gazes at his master lovingly.)

Oh, don't give me that look. I know what I'm doing. Besides, she's never been anything but nice to you. Ugh... nice... Paladin... light...

(Sparkie begins to wag his tail at hearing the world Paladin, then wanders off amongst the displays while Fulguralis continues to scrutinize the contents in front of him in clear agony of the decision.)

Spaz

(Spaz sprints on stage.)

Hey-there-master-sir-man-thing. Whatareyoudoing? CanIhelp?

(Spaz knocks into a display, making it totter precariously.)

Fulguralis

(Fulguralis reaches out to steady the display, and then sighs.)

I’m trying to pick out a ring Spaz. Think you can manage to do that without destroying anything?

Spaz

Surething-boss!

(Spaz takes off like a bullet, running around the room and nearly breaking everything he whizzes by before returning with a shiny object in his hand that he’s somehow removed from the display case.)

Here-how-‘bout-this-one.

(Spaz holds out his hand which contains a ring called “Gatekeeper”. Fulguralis takes it.)

Getit?! She’s-the-gatekeeper-and-you’re-the-keymaster! HeehahaHEE! Okay-all-done-gotta-jet!

(Spaz exits the store in a blur of Impish delight. Fulguralis looks at the ring, sighs, and then sets it down on the counter in front of him.)

Midnight

(Midnight enters the store, walking seductively across the room towards Fulguralis with her whip in-hand. She steps up next to the Warlock and smacks herself loudly on the behind to get his attention.)

Hiya, suga. Heard you were fixin’ to buy a ring. Are you getting’ all domestic on me? That’s not very naughty…

(She loses her train of thought as she notices all the shiny, expensive jewelry around her in the store and her eyes light up. With noticeable effort, she restrains herself from swiping all of the rings up and disappearing into the night.)

Fulguralis

Spaz told you already? That little imp is a pain in my…

Midnight

Mmmmm. How about this one? This is what I would get if I were getting’ in touch with my more… tame… side.

(Midnight holds out a ring labeled “Furious Gladiator's Band of Dominance”.)

Take it or leave it suga. I gotta get outta here before my better sensibilities are spoiled by these talks of domesticity. Oh, listen to me use dem big words. A lady of the night ought not to be so… proper.

(She smacks herself again on the behind.)

Mmmm. That’s better. Toodles!

(Midnight exits the store, shaking her hips seductively as she leaves. Fulguralis looks at the ring, sighs, and then sets it down on the counter next to the first one.)

Berry Blue

(Berry Blue enters the store in a puff of blue smoke and glides across the room towards Fulguralis. Strangely, the overhead music in the store seems to have switched to smooth jazz.)

Heeeey there cool cat. I heard you was lookin’ for a ring of looooove.

Fulguralis

That damned Imp!

Berry Blue

Precisely… now let me see.

(The big blue voidwalker glides around the room as if waiting for the magnetic pull of one of the wares. Apparently feeling it, he finally stops, gingerly withdraws a ring and returns it to Fulguralis. It is labeled “Ring of the Fated”.)

You two are like Romeo and Juliet. Not the opera version, mind you, ‘cuz we killed them, but the ones from the old play of loooove. You’d be wise to get her this ring.

(A mournful horn sounds from somewhere off stage.)

Well, loooove calls. I’ll catch you on the flip side.

(Berry Blue exits the store in another puff of blue smoke and the music resumes its elevator-like quality. Fulguralis gazes at the ring, sighs, and then sets it down on the counter next to the first two.)

DeeGee

(DeeGee enters the store and struts over to Fulguralis.)

What’s up, bro? Check out my banana hammock.

(It seems as though DeeGee is thrusting a bit as he stands next to the warlock.)

You find a ring yet?

Fulguralis

Does he have to tell everyone?

DeeGee

(The doomguard looks down at the case next to him, and picks seemingly the first ring he sees. He casually flips it to Fulguralis who catches it and reads the label “The Leviathan's Coil”.)

Check it out, bro. Fits right? High five!

(DeeGee looks around worriedly for a moment.)

Dude, have you seen my beach ball? It’s, like, this big around.

(He flexes. Fulguralis shakes his head and averts his eyes.)

That sucks. Catch ya later, bro.

(DeeGee leaves the store, flexing the whole way out. Fulguralis glances at the ring in his hand before shuddering and setting it down next to the others on the counter.)

Pablo

(Pablo the Infernal enters the store at a run, crackling from the fire that constantly consumes his rock-like body. He walks over to Fulguralis, who only slightly shies away from the heat rolling in waves off of Pablo. Pablo wipes his brow dramatically.)

Sheesh, is it just me or is it hot hot hot in here?

(Fulguralis rolls his eyes at the awful pun.)

Rough crowd, huh? Anyways, I, ah, heard you was lookin’ for a ring, man.

Fulguralis

(Shakes one first at the sky.)

Curse that imp!

Pablo

Man, you’re loco. I ain’t stayin too long though. It’s always so hot out, I just want to go find me some shade, ya know?

(Pablo looks around quickly at the rings. He picks one up and tosses it to Fulguralis, who bobbles it around like a hot potato before reading the label “Fire Orchid Signet”.)

Here, take this one for your chica, man. She’ll love it, I promise. Women love to be told how hot they are, ya know?

(Pablo wipes his brow dramatically again.)

Man, I gotta go or I’m going to melt or something. Hasta!

(Pablo leaves the store quickly, leaving trails of smoke behind him. Fulguralis glances at the ring smoldering on the table next to the others and sighs.)

Fulguralis

I’m never going to be able to find the right ring! Warlocks are completely ill-suited to things like this. Who’s idea was this stupid custom anyways? Why can’t I just like, make a big bonfire for her or give her a pile of souls trapped in shards?

(Sparkie comes over and nuzzles against his master, who pats him on the head. The dog then whines and looks up at Fulguralis with something in his jaws.)

What’s that boy? Timmy’s in the well? Well that’s probably because I cast a spell of fear on him and he ran headlong into the well with no thought for his personal safety. Kids nowadays, am I right? You can hardly blame that on me. Oh, that’s not it? What’s that you have there?

(Fulguralis takes the ring from Sparkie’s mouth, wipes the slobber off of it and reads “Golden Engagement Ring”. Fulguralis looks down at his pet and smiles.)

That’ll do, boy, that’ll do.