Breaking News/Security Watch

This weekend was the official start to the Blizzard Conference, or BlizCon 2009 as fans and bloggers have named it.  I suppose Cloth and Fireballs would not be a World of Warcraft blog if I did not take the time to mention the news coming out of the conference.  Like most of you, I tried to avoid reading the advance alerts.  Some may still be avoiding the news so I've decided to add the details that interest me after the fold.  Click the "Read More" link to see what's come up.  Though, if you're a fan of the game, you will have been bombarded in the game chats.   I'm better safe than sorry!

Before I get to that, I want to take a moment to talk about the recent escalation in security breaches.  Perhaps I only see it as an increase because I effected not only me, but an in game friend of mine.  In any case, it does not hurt to tell my story.

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Now, first off, I run a Mac.  I feel its important to mention because many Mac users believe they are safe from virus and attacks.  I still do, but I'm a little more paranoid now, even after I did a complete sweep of my computer.  

Thursday morning I awoke to an email from Blizzard, advising me my account is under 24 hour suspension due to unauthorized users accessing my account.  When I asked for further information, I was told the GM's were notified to a problem on my account because my characters (a high level alt I have) was reported.

Jeepers!  

If you're like me, the first thing you ask is, How.  The answer, Key Loggers or other programs that steal your password or bust into your account.  Blizzard changed my password for me (and I have done it again before logging into the system) which ended the hacker's fun, but not before they emptied my bags and stole all of my gold.  Now, Sneekypeach has more gold than my level 74 hunter.  The "unsavory characters" did not even leave me enough gold to purchase a flight path to my questing zone.

Now I await judgement from Blizzard regarding my stolen items and gold.  They advise it could take up to a week.  Not a big deal, considering I don't play the character often.

The whole experience has put an unappetizing taste in my mouth.   I've run two different security programs, both of which found zero virus' running on my system, making me all the more curious.  Why me and How?  I guess I'll never know.  In the mean time, everyone should check their computers and possibly update their passwords.

Now, unto the news that is rocking fans of the franchise - The official announcement of the next expansion.  No word yet when it will be release, as far as I've read, but fans are already getting themselves worked up - either in angry or joy.

The major change, and one that will effect all players, even those who choose not to buy the next expansion, the redesign of the old continents.  According to Blizzard, Eastern Kingdom and Kalimdor will be changed.  There will be a world event in the future that will change the look, feel and play style.  The original content gone or changed, even for players who are new to the game.

When the Cataclysm occurs, it will occur for all players, whether they have purchased the expansion or not--you will no longer be to play in the original version of Kalimdor or the Eastern Kingdoms. However, certain features such as the new zones, new races, and new level cap will only be accessible to players who purchase the expansion. - Blizzard Cataclysm F.A.Q

I can see both sides to this news.  

On a plus, those players who have moved onto Outlands and Northrend have also moved on from the playable content and usefulness of the original continents.  To them, these are just places one needs to return to for visiting trainers and auction houses.   The cataclysm will bring them back to the old country to complete new quest lines revolving around the event. 

However I feel that I can speak for new players, and from the point of view of one (After all, I only started playing the game in May and have not found original content expired), when I express my disappointment in the permanent and automatic change.   The new expansion may well bring new players to the game, and will surely cause veteran players to re-role new characters.  The unfortunate part - all of the new toons will loose out on the original content.  They will only experience the world after the disaster.

Which is not a major deal, except new players and players on new characters will not feel the same emotions caused by the changes as older players will.  I imagine Blizzard's choice to destroy Orgrimmar, for example, was, in small part, designed to tug at the heart strings, just a little.   If you are a new player, you will not feel that sadness. 

My hope, before the official announcements were made, was to see the changes happen as an instance based event.  These types of story lines already occur in Wrath of the Linch King.  I hoped to see the changes happen for players who complete a set level cap, or story line or event.  Of course, this would mean that some players are working with the new content and others are not.  This fact should have tipped me off to the unlikeliness of the idea - but a girl can dream.

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Stretching (a little further) to Level 15

Yesterday I wrote about my grind through level 12 and 13.  And grind it was.  This has happened to me before, once on another toon, when I found the easy quests of the zone after I completed the trickery ones.  This is not the case here in Loch Modan.  I have simply run out of quests for my level 14 self.  One more level to go and then I should be back on track.

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So, I took my level 14 self and decided to attempt to find Bringle's tools. At the same time I could tackle "In defense of King's Land", which is the quest to kill two Togg types, some of which were protecting Bringle's tools.  I ended up getting one of the tools, dying 3 times in the process, and decided to call this quest quits for the moment.

Instead, I put peddle to floor and went back to the Tunnel Rats to farm for bronze and linen.  It was dreadfully boring and slow going, but I eventually made it to 15, hitting  the next level in first aid and mining in the process. 

I wasted no time in hitting the road for Ironforge and speaking to Dink, who sent me to talk to Jennea in Stormwind.  Easy enough, so I was off again to Stormwind.  You know, for a Gnome, I spend a lot of time in the Human capitol.   First task, investigate the haunting in the local pub.  It was a lot harder than it looked too, 3 ghosts to one squishy mage. My personal suggestion, go downstairs and call one out.  In the basement they only spawn one at a time. 

Handed in and she told me to get some linen and gems for my robe.  Okay.  I can do that.  Funny thing was, she sent me back to the cave of Tunnel Rats that I had already looted for a previous quest.   Looted the cave again, just as hard the second time, and returned back to Stormwind to turn in my findings.  

The reward, a shiny new robe, which, compared to my old robe, is an armor boost of 6 and +6 intelligence traded for +4 stamina.  

Onward, but not until next week.

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Stretching to Level 15

Last week, I lamented about the lack of substance in the class quests for mage.  I still feel that way, but then read about a second mage quest at level 15.  Yes, still not my teleport - I'm very excited for that level 20 skill - but still something special.  The tricky bit was how to reach level 15 when all of my level applicable quests ended at 11.  

My solution, grinding.  I know, it's not glamorous or particularly interesting, but, as a mage, I'm a little too squishy to tackle the upper level quests.  But somehow I got there, and then it was onward to the mage quest.

This week is another two part entry.

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Last we met, I hit level 12.  To start, I completed my remaining level 11 quests, collect spider parts, boar parts and bear parts, (ok. I can deal with that), kill a set number of Toggs and collect their teeth (ew, but ok), kill tunnel rats and collect their ears (ew!)  A lot of the quests here are grind type quests.  The brighter side of the coin, Toggs and Tunnel Rats both drop coinage and linen for first aid. So there could be worse things.  Even the boars drop meat I can use for cooking skills.  

I had a turn in quest, a level 15, which could have been labeled level 10.  How easy was it to walk up the path, talk to the fellow and be told travel to Stormwind and deliver this letter for me.  Pardon me?  Stormwind?  Is that all?  That place that I can, and have, been traveling back and forth to and from since I was a little level 7?  Well, that's worth an easy experience boost, reputation boost and 6 silver.  And even better, when I arrived, I noticed a quest giver across the square who wanted me to make a return delivery.  Sure, I can deliver your package while I collect my next quest.   Easy experience, easy reputation and 7 more silver.  Sure!

*The above picture is fuzzy because of the tram movement.  Also, don't move around too much or, like me, you'll fall off.

In no time at all, I returned to Loch Modan and find my quest log listing only quests for level 15. Unfortunate, seeing as I'm only level 13.

I attempted a level 15 quest I picked up in Ironforge.  It was a simple turn in quest.  "Go find Bingles", who, according to my carbonite addon is on the opposite side of the loch.  Yeah, sounds easy enough, until you find out that there are level 19/20 Lurkers (Loch Monster type animals) that agro from miles away.  I died on the swim over to Bingles, only to find out he wanted me to go hunt for his missing tools.  Another level 15 quest.   :-P   No, I wasn't expecting to get a level 13 quest after I turned in a level 15, but where are my level 12-14 quests. 

But with 2 levels to go, I had to do something so I reviewed my quest log.  I had a collection quest, into the tunnels where the Tunnel Rats lived.  I figured that, of all my available quests, this one might be the easiest.  The Rats are only level 10-12.  The trouble, they come in droves and some have an ability that resists fire damage.  I died a few times, but managed to complete the quest.   Lucky for me, the experience boost brought me up to level 14, so it was back to Ironforge for my training.  Boy oh Boy do I wish I had a teleport spell.  No more dropping what I'm doing and running back to a flight paths for training. 

Level 14 brings me Level 2 Arcane Intelligence, Level 2 Fire Blast, Level 3 frostbolt, all standard upgrades, and a new spell, Arcane Explosion, which is an Area-Of-Effect, excellent for when those extra monsters attack at once. 

Then back to grinding.  Part two tomorrow with the last of the grinding and my mage quest write up.

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Onward into Loch Modan

When I left off last week, I achieved level 10 and received notice from my trainer to speak with Bink in Ironforge.  I also had a second 'turn in quest' in Ironforge, so set off into the great city to begin my new tasks, leaving much of Dun Morogh behind me until I reach a level where I can safely venture into Gnomeregan.

Ironforge is the Capital city of both Gnomes and Dwarves, and the population ranges all spectrums of the Alliance fraction.   In the past, before Stormwind Harbor connected the Human city with all areas of Alliance life, Ironforge played the role of major gathering point.  To be honest, I still find it more busy than Stormwind, but that could just be my opinion.

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I find moving about in Ironforge easy, and less confusing than other capitols I've been in, but getting from one side to the other does take a while.  As a Mage/Miner, I find my time split mostly between The Commons (bank), The Great Forge (for mining), and the Mystic Ward (Mage training).  I also find I spend a fair amount of time in the Forlorn Cavern, where I have taken some time to relax and fish.

For the moment,  I only needed to find the Mage area and speak with Bink.  She's a little Gnome who set me off to find her gizmonitor in exchange for a new staff or an orb.  

Perhaps I'm a bit spoiled from my past characters, but the level 10 mage quest was a big let down.  At level 10 as a Hunter, you get a quest chain giving you the ability to tame your pet, at 10 as a Druid, you get a quest chain to learn your Bear Form, your first shifted form.  

For me--I chose the new staff, which, when compared to the Staff I already had, okay, yes, it was a good upgrade, including a stat boost of +1 intellect and +1 spirit, but it didn't feel like much compared to my past characters.   Where is the great game changer? Where is something unique to Mage?   Portals are fun, what about them (Oh, not until level 20 I see) -- I also find it funny the second choice for reward was an off-hand item when we are trained in, and melee with, a two handed staff.  Yes, I suppose, in Blizzard's defence, we do have the ability to use a wand, but at this point in the game, unless you're a spoiled alt, you don't have enough money to buy one.

In any case, my mage training was over and done with before I knew it.  However, before I continued with levels, I needed to decide on where to use my talent point.  I had 6 choices and chose improve fireball, (to save time, I chose improve fireball for my level 11 talent too), to speed my cast time of the spell, then continued with my questing to the east of Dun Morogh.  There is a tricky set of quests in the quarry to the south of the zone which netted me experience points, bags full of loot to sell and a lot of copper for my crafting.  Unfortunately, no cloth armor to replace my own, but I made some good cash.   

Speaking of crafting, both are going well.  With my jewel crafting, I have been able to make myself 2 rings, one for stat boost +1 intel, and one for stat boost +1 spirit.  When I reach level 13, I will be replacing my spirit ring with one I can make myself with +Stamina.  Intelligence and Stamina are my two best attributes. 

In my attempt to clear the zone and receive the "Explore Dun Morogh" achievement, I found a short quest line at the Northern gate of the zone, centered around a downed pilot, with an easy end pray.  It's rather dull to blog and then I went here, and did this, and then I went there and did this, but in reality, that is what the game is all about.    What is interesting is how the zones all tie together.  I've always been a fan of organically moving through the land as you are sent on your quests, and the beer delivery quests, as well as the honor picks quest line does just this.   This is about when I hit level 12 and landed in Ironforge for my mage training in Fireball (3),  Slow Fall, a spell to, well, slow your fall and Dampen Magic, a spell to help you and/or your party against spell casters.   One thing more to know about Dampen Magic, if you're in a party, it will also dampen any healing spells being cast on you and your party, so the use of this one will be hit or miss.

Back to Thelsamar, where I set my hearth and logged out for the week.

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