I know that I promised that the “Gear Guide” posts would be forthcoming, and they are, but in the meanwhile, an actual update/post from The Cow…

I mentioned previously, that I’d been playing an Alliance character on my server, but I didn’t elaborate much on that, or why I’ve been so hellbent Horde for so long. When I first started playing, it was as a clueless Alliance, and my first 70 (yes, I started during BC) was a Draenei Shaman. When she stopped being fun though (perhaps because I didn’t understand the class, perhaps because of the expectations on me from my then-guild), I started leveling up a Horde.

That became my first Horde 70, the occasionally mentioned Hunter, Malanior. Mal was the first character I raided on, and would be my first 80 as well. The next 80, as this blog documented, was Grim, and he has been followed by Azok, Anarial (only 77, but she’s merely a mule), Annisa, and the most recent, Eikal, the former Draenei Shaman.

When my guild fell apart, my former raid leader encouraged me to roll up Rathorian so I could raid on his side. And for the past few weeks or so, I’ve been leveling him like gangbusters, and finally reached Northrend the other day. I suspect he’ll be 80 by this time next week, and if that’s the case, he’ll probably take over as “active raider”, a role that Grim used to hold. That’s not to say I want to shove Grim to the backburner, but until I have the financial means to swap factions with him, that’s how it’ll hafta be.

So what does that mean for the future of this blog? Good question. I’m not sure I can justify writing about a character I’m not actively playing (beyond the promised gear posts, that is) … but I’ll leave that up to you, readers.

Should I stay or should I go?

Popularity: 3% [?]

It’s been several weeks (again) since I’ve made a post of significant substance that related to WoW and/or Death Knights. And while I’d love to be able to say that’s because I was too busy raiding, or beefing up the roster of my guild….no, not so much.

I’m not going to get into what happened with the guild here, but we’ll suffice it to say that my expectations apparently didn’t match the reality of the situation.

Raiding wise, Grim has been invited to Coliseum twice…once in a 10 man group with the guild of a former guildmate….the other, in a 25 man group with the former guild. And yes, if that sounds awkward, it was more so than you could possibly imagine. Beyond that apparently that everything I learned in 10 didn’t apply in 25, the vast majority of the group had nothing to say to me. Guild leaders, raid leaders…yeah. Nada. So I did my thing, quietly, rolled when I was told I could roll, and hightailed it out of there when it finished.

Since then, I’ve been trying to level characters. I had the thought in my head to level up a warlock, using the heirloom gear I had from my bagmaker (the mage), and getting him up high enough that I could have a flask mastery (can’t remember off hand if that’s elixir or potions, but no matter) toon. My Resto Shaman is a transmute mastery alchemist, which is useful with my AHing. But…I got to the early 20s and started getting both bored and frustrated. I don’t particularly enjoy playing squishies, and even with a tank pet, I found myself dying far too often for my liking.

So…I have a dirty little secret.

Grim, the stalwart Hordey, prone to random twitters of Lok’tar Ogar …

… rolled up an Alliance druid.

Yes. I really did. It was mostly because of friends I have on that side (and, quite frankly, I can’t afford to transfer Grim or any other toons over)…but I’ve found myself having fun. Except when I was PVPing tonight, but that’s another story for another time.

I intend to play Grim again, to raid again, to not neglect him…but I don’t know how that’s going to work out, how it’s going to come to pass. It may not be until I have the financial means to “move him”…and I’m still not even certain that’s something I want to do.

I guess time will tell.

But…in the meanwhile. I am around, even if I’m not on the cow.

Popularity: 3% [?]

…and on two different feats to boot…

Not only did Grim ding 80 this evening, I also finally saved up enough gold in the coffers to buy him his epic flying. And wow, I’d forgotten how much faster that is over the regular flying! I was zooming through Sholazar collecting ore – I still need to gather up tomorrows Titanium for the next batch of Titansteel Bars, but that should go much quicker now. I have 5 bars in my bank right now, which (once I get a frozen orb) means I’ll be able to make the Tempered Titansteel Helm, which, as I’ve read it, will be getting a meta socket at the 3.0.8 patch.

I need to respec again to a more tank oriented build, which will mean saying farewell to my little ghoulish buddy – at least for now. Once we get dual-specs, I will most definitely be putting Master of Ghouls into my DPS build. Ah well…this is the tanking build I’m looking at right now…any thoughts, anyone?

Popularity: 4% [?]