Kharins Quest

Finally, a few short weeks ago the launch date of the latest WOW expansion was announced (7^th December) and over the last couple of weeks patch 4 has been implemented.   In fact, in the last few days things have been heating up and changes are occuring in rapid pace.   Cataclysm is  upon us …

When I remember my initial enthusiasm on discovering the fascinating World of Warcraft, I find it hard to believe that until a few days ago – it has been weeks – even months – since I have spent any significant time amongst its cities, villages, wilderness, battle fields and dungeons.  Indeed, both the Harvest festival (a rather nonevent admittedly), Brewfest and Hallows End have come and gone without the participation of even my lower level characters.  I first seriously began playing WOW as Blizzard was gearing up for the release of Wrath of Lich King.  I flung myself into the newly released achievements and thoroughly enjoyed Brewfest (my first taste of a seasonal event) and All Hallows End.  Indeed, my hunter (mid40s in level) had only just started trick or treating at the inns of Azeroth – including braving the horrors of the Eastern Plaguelands when the teaser for the WoTLK launch, the Zombie plagues hit the capitals and towns.

At first mysterious green-hazed crates and cockroaches began appearing in well traveled streets.  Then within in the normally safe haven of the auction house in Iron forge, I returned from AFK to find my hunter mysteriously inflicted with a strange illness.  Stone form, rather than dealing with the disease or poison, instantly transformed her into one of the grungy, walking dead.  After a few repeats of this distasteful experience, my hunter fled the more populous towns and lands to the deserted deserts of Desolace.  Indeed, I was on the very cusp of giving up my WOW subscription.  The game had ceased to be fun.  Many of my guild mates shared my feelings though others participated in the event with great relish.  Some were teenagers who brought up on B grade horror movies. But others were bored 70s who relished something new and different, a world event that added something new to the diet of daily quests, old dungeons and raids.  Once Wrath was released, our normally helpful level 70 guild mates were preoccupied as they spent the next few months devouring the new quests and dungeons in the snowy wastes of Northrend in the race to reach 80.  Now I understand their relish of something new, a world event – though I still hate Zombies.

Over the last few months there has been not much new in Azeroth.  True, the battle of Gnomergan has possibilities (similar in ways to the epic retaking of Undercity event that follows on from the Wrathgate series).  But the one time my priest joined the gnomes epic battle to retake their city it glitches out right at the finale – apparently a common bug if anyone (not even someone of in your party) enters the area while the event is in progress.  But apart from that, I have now brought four characters to 80, have done most of the alliance quests and a good portion of the horde ones a number of times, many of the achievements (including Loremaster and Explorer), been through the dungeons countless times, leveled most of the professions and experienced all of the battlegrounds.  The one thing I haven’t done countless times is raid – but an insolvable problem with ventriolo (the de rigour audio chat feed) has made that a moot point.  Moreover, one by one my real life friends have fallen by the wayside.  The last several months have been a long stretch waiting for significant new content … waiting for the forecasted cataclysm to shake things up in Azeroth.

And then, dare I confess it, I joined my sister into the new, different realm of social games on face book … Kingdoms of Camelot (KOC), Verdonia (strategy games modeled on Evony), even Frontierville, Farmville and Cafeworld.  In doing so I have discovered a whole new world, a different set of alliances and friendships, different challenges and different content.  My initial reaction (as I quickly ran out of energy clearing my small plot of land from trees, weeds, and debris) was that this is nothing like WOW.   Certainly not designed for continuous play over long periods, these games do however grow in complexity and challenge as one’s avatar levels up and they build in the need to go back regularly to harvest ones crops, build walls and cities or save ones gourmet dishes from burning.  And the best ones build in rewards and achievements, cooperation with friends, personal flair/style, the sense of building something and progression.  But more than anything else, they are new, different … different skills, different challenges, and different worlds.  And I am not the only stray from the WOW universe wandering these strange paths – if the names of cities and kingdoms in KOC and Verdonia and City of Wonder are anything to go by (among the Tolkien Gondor and Minas Tireth etc there is a Thrall of Ogrimmar for instance).

Nevertheless, my pulse did quicken just a little when I saw the preview box for Cataclysm in the shops.  I have placed my preorder and am prepared to be engaged and captivated once again with the recent patch changes.  I have begun negotiating the new talent system and intend to explore the newest profession (archaeology).

And now … Cataclysm Elemental Invasion is upon us with, new quests have appeared in the major Horde and Alliance cities centred on Orgrimmar and Thunderbuff (Horde) and Stormwind and Ironforge (Alliance).  Twilight cult devotees have sprouted from nowhere proclaiming the end of the world, mysterious devices have appeared in the cities while tremors shake them, citizens are going missing, and the cult works hard to bring about the a cataclysmic destruction.  Meanwhile, the majority of the good citizens of Stormwind or Orgrimmar laugh at the idea of the end of the world as indeed most of us would.  The virtual world of Azeroth draws heavily from ancient philosophical and religious beliefs which often held to periodic cosmic catastrophes.  In a world schooled in thinking of deep time and slow and steady world-transforming processes, it is perhaps sobering to realize that scientists are now acknowledging that cataclysmic events (supervolcanoes, meteor strikes, massive floods and tsunamis) have played a much greater part in earth history than they had admitted during the last 150-200 years.

Past events aside,  over the last several hours phase 4 and the virtual battle to defend the cities and lands of Azeroth have begun in earnest – bringing with it an epic battle against the unleashed elements (roughly every 2-3 hours) which requires epic defense of from Azeroth’s heroes.  Successful defense opens up portals to new boss encounters and rewards. Once again a world event has been unleashed on the unsuspecting citizens – and this wandering hero has returned just in time to be swept up in the excitement of the cataclysmic moment.

Kharin

The two-headed ogre roared menacingly from the platform, short-sightedly unaware that his sycophantic audience was no more.  My dwarf hunter and her faithful turtle Snowflake edged closer to the monster, getting ready to engage in combat.  This is it … just one more quest to go …

The road towards Loremaster begins innocently enough in one of the eight (four horde, four alliance) starter villages – but there is no telling where it might finish.  To my hunter it had begun in the snow blanketed hills of Dun Morgnh months before achievements such as Loremaster had been introduced.  Since then Loremaster of Northrend, Loremaster of Kalimdor, Seeker (complete 3000 quests), Loremaster of Eastern Kingdoms had all flashed up on the screen.  All that remained were half the quests in Nagrand and all the Shadowmoon quests.  What could be easier?

Then I got stuck at eight quests short in Nagrand.  Falling short of the required number of quests had happened a few times before – in Borean Tundra, Zul Drak, Netherstorm, Blades Edge Mountains – but usually after a bit of research on the web, I’d found a new quest centre, quest drop or quest line that I’d missed.  Netherstorm was the exception – I camped fruitlessly for weeks waiting for the Congealed Void Horror (the vial it drops starts The Horrors of Pollution quest) to get my last quest for  Into the Nether .  Eventually, I gave up and managed to solo Deathblow to the Legion .

In Nagrand, the web did not (completely) fail me as I learned that a Nagrand quest line started in Shadowmoon Valley.  So off I went to complete the Shadow of the Betrayer achievement in short time.  There I found the Altruis questline leading back to Nagrand.  I’d also saved the gnome (Kristen Dipswitch) that appears every other hour at the Nessingwary camp (opens up I’m Saved ) and looted the Murkblood Invasion Plans from the Murkblood Invaders (2 more quests).  I’d previously stumbled on the Kurenai captive escort quest, the Consortium lead in quest, the 2 quests from the goblin Wazat and the Howling Wind drop quest.  No other area seems to have as many elusive or isolated and difficult to find quests even for Horde (who have more quests here in Nagrand).  At last, I only had one more quest hand in to complete the Nagrand Slam, Loremaster of Outlands and Loremaster.

So here I was, in the Shadow Labyrinths – facing Blackheart the Inciter and ready to wrest from his ham like fists the Fel Book of Names.   As the Ogre fell and my hunter held the thick volume in her hands … nothing, no flash, no achievement.  Well of course not, I still had to hand the book in to Altruis.  My hunter threaded her way back through the dungeon and flew with speed to northwest Nagrand.  I almost keyed in guild chat “wait for it” as I hand the book to Altrius.  Nothing – nada – zilch – my counter is still stuck at 75/76.  Apparently the hand-in counts towards Shadowmoon not Nagrand.

What have I missed?  Once again I troll the web and reread the posts until at last a couple of posts jump out at me – the first hand in of the monthly consortium rep quest (friendly required) at Aeries Landing can count towards Loremaster.  I’d done this particular quest on some of my toons, but had I done it on my hunter?  Definitely worth a try – and sure enough, after a quick fly south to Aeries Landing to find the quest available … flash, flash, flash … Nagrand Slam, Loremaster of Outlands, Loremaster!  The end of this particular long journey.

“/g woot” I type into the aether with a wide grin.  My fellow guildies, preoccupied with other things, stay silent .   When I had completed Shadow of the Betrayer, a guildie had commented “someone pursuing Loremaser”.  “Yes,” I said, “Only 7 more quests to go.”  “Oh, I’m concentrating on being the epic priest achievement,” says another.  “And you are an epic priest,” another guildie replies.  “I lost interest in pursuing Loremaster once I got Seeker,” another murmurs.  The guild chat moves on.  Well, that’s one of the things I love about WOW – it has so many different aspects to it.  Some are interested in questing, some in achievements, some in the social aspects of the game, some in levelling professions, others in PvP, or raiding and usually some combination of these.  At the end of the day I had another title, another tabard, vastly extended knowledge of the lore and history of the world of Azeroth, a quiet feeling of achievement and hours of fun questing with others or on my own.  And the quests I enjoyed the most were the quests that told a story.

People give their time, energy and passion to all kinds of past times and pursuits – mastering chess, watching TV, social games on facebook, sewing intricate quilts, clubbing or boozing with friends.  Is a consuming pursuit of fame, fortune, power, excitement or pleasure in the non-virtual world any more or less worthwhile?  No doubt it is a matter of perspective, consequences and balance.  As the loading screen tips intone: “Remember to take all things in moderation” adding somewhat tongue in cheek “even World of Warcraft!” and “Bring your friends to Azeroth, but don’t forget to go outside Azeroth with them as well.”  http://www.wowwiki.com/Loading_screen_tips

It is easy for WOW to consume a lot of our time, energy and focus – even perhaps to forget that it is virtual reality, a game which while it is a lot of fun in the end gives largely ephemeral gains.   My hunter may be able to juggle 40 burning torches with great ease but there is no way I’m going try that stunt in real life.  It begs the question – what is real, what is eternal, what really matters?  Sure, it’s okay to chill out and even better when we can do that with our friends.  In the end, it is only when we know the answer to the question of what really matters that we can know what is the best investment of our time, talents, resources and passions.

Like the Explorer title, Loremaster requires patience, persistence and dedicated time but not necessarily the completion of some insanely difficult task (like in my humble opinion the pvp achievment Ironman for instance).  Simply put, all that is required is completing the right number of quests in the different regions of Eastern Kingdoms, Kalimdor, Northrend and Outlands.   The main difficulty comes in finding the final few quests which are as often as not group quests or require dungeon forays or are hard to find.

Keep in mind that:

# not all quests count towards lore master – for instance dailies (though sometimes the first time does sometimes count), seasonal quests, PvP quests and some dungeon quests.

# Questlines may cross continents or regions and it is sometimes difficult to predict towards which region a particular quest will count [Edit: This is probably less likely in Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor with the radical revamp of quests in these regions with the release of Cataclysm.];

# Once the majority of quests in a region has been completed quests are much more likely to be group quests or linked to an instance in the region.  While the lower level group or dungeon related quests are easy to solo at 80, it becomes more of a challenge in Icecrown (depending on gear).  However, my hunter was able to solo enough of the group quests in Icecrown to get the achievement.

# It is not uncommon to be appear to run out of quests while still short of the required number in many regions.  All regions actually have more quests than required for the achievement though that margin is a lot smaller in some areas than others.

# Things to  consider if you have run short of quests:

* Often one or two quests in a region start from a drop and in many cases this can open up an important quest line eg in Zul Drak the Unliving Choker (opens up a string of quests important to the main story line and also contributes towards the achievement Guru of Drakuru).

* Think about a quest center you may have missed as a region often has more than one (in Borean Tundra for instance there are at least 6 main quest centres so it is easy to miss one or more.)

* There is often one or two quest givers in isolated and/or hard to find areas.  In some cases there will be lead in quest (eg a Diplomatic Mission in Borean Tundra) while in others are stand alone quests (eg two quests from Kim’jael in Ashzara ).  In the later case you will may need to look over resource sites such as Game Pressure (which lists all the quests with the quest giver, location and whether quest giver is alliance, horde or neutral). Comments of other players on sites like thotbot, Wowiki and WOWhead can be very useful.

* Some quests only open after completing another quest line, finding a drop, doing a specific action (ie you can get the quest The horn of the Beast from a drop off Margol in Searing Gorge but speaking to Pebblebitty at the Searing Gorge gate  will steer you towards this hard to find beast).  In a number of cases, quests/quest lines only open up once you have gained a certain level of reputation with a faction (eg consortium rep or Aldor’s or Scyrer’s rep in the Outlands).

* Quest lines that start in another region may in fact count towards the zone in which you are missing quests (eg Altrius quest line but other quest lines that cross zones include ).

* Be as efficient as possible by picking up all the quests in at a particular quest hub  so that you can complete 2-3 quests at the same time.  Generally it makes sense to complete the quests in one area before moving on to the next hub.)

* As much as possible, complete all the prerequisite quests before completing a dungeon

* Don’t forget to have your “low level quest” finder on your mini-map when you are questing in low level regions.

* As with the Explorer achievment, you can combine Loremaster with other achievements – e.g. if you are doing the majority of the quests in an area why not completely explore it as well or finish off the dungeons in that area.

* It is not necessary to do absolutely every quest – there are more quests in each region than needed for the relevant title.  This includes Loremaster of the Eastern Kingdoms and Loremaster of Kalimdor.

Don’t forget to have fun and remember that this is one achievement that takes time, plenty of it.

Kharin

In the middle of playing late last night I found myself guild-less.  Now while it was possible that I’d been kicked, it seemed unlikely given that I was second-in-command and knew the Guild Leader well.  I emailed her at once and it soon became obvious that she had been hacked, the Guild no doubt stripped of all assets and, then to rub salt in the wounds, disbanded.  This is not my first experience with hacker and gold stealers – my first guild was cleaned out when one of the ranking officers followed an ingame email ostensibly from one of the guild members with a website link to a supposed video about our guild but in reality a key logger site.  The sad fact is that such attacks are not rare occurrences in WOW.   Most often a GB is cleared as the result of a hacker gaining access to a guild member’s account.  In other cases it may be ninja (a less than trustworthy guildie who takes items of worth to sell rather than for personal use).  And in some rare cases Guild Masters have apparently, in a fit of pique or boredom, closed down the guild.  There are people after your virtual gold – whether for their own personal use or to sell for real US dollars to those silly enough to trust them.

If your account is compromised you should immediately  1) create a new password for your account if you can; 2) contact Blizzard by phoning or sending an email (to restore account if necessary) and, once you have access to your account, by opening a ticket in game with a Game Master (GM) (to recover lost items)  and 3) run a full viral scan of your computer to eliminate the presence of key logger programs., 4) secure your account and your email account, & 5) you will need to be patient as generally takes time to restore things.  ( Check out this and  this for summaries of what to do).

Just as with theft in the real world – there are a number of measures that you can take which greatly reduce the risk of being hacked, but not entirely eliminate it.  And as with theft in the real world, it is a shock when it happens to you and can often feel like a gross invasion of personal (more…)

The World Explorer title and tabard (for exploring Northrend) is one of the simplest titles to earn.   In real life, I love to travel to distant and exotic places – to explore different landscapes, places and cultures.  One of the things I love about WOW is the variety and beauty of its diverse landscapes some which bring back memories of savannahs and semi-desert lanscapes of my childhood while others have a more alien beauty. So exploring different areas has always been part of the fun.  However, it was the seasonal events that really got me started towards the World Explorer title – first when my main (then in her 40s) made her determined (and suicidal) push to Light’s Hope Chapel, Eastern Plaguelands to complete Trick and Treats of the Eastern Kingdoms, and then when she (having just made 70) made a even more determined attempt to reach Frost Hold, Bouldercrag’s Refuge and Tunka’lo Camp in Storm Peaks to complete Elders of Northrend.  Both attempts were successful though the attempt to get to Frost Hold without a flying mount took the most tries (an understatement LOL).  Having reached Elder Fargal in Frosthold she was inspired to finish exploring – gaining the title at level 73.

With patch 3.2.0  introduced last year (2009), this achievement has become easier now that flight in Outlands is available at 60 and cold weather flying is available at 68 if at least one other alt is at 80 on the same realm (through the purchase an account bound book from Hira Snowdoawn at Krasus landing, Dalaran).  Otherwise, cold weather flying is available at 77 for the appropriate amount of gold.  So once players reach 77 (or 68 on alts) this achievement is just a matter of taking the time to travel.  It can however be achieved much earlier.  Tenen, a Dwarf Warrior (Moon Guard realm) gained the World Explorer title at Level 17 (a level he achieved entirely from exploration – no quests, pvp or mob kills etc)!)  Tenen did receive help from other players who at times escorted him through areas or summoned him to inaccessible places in Outlands impossible to reach without flight.

None of my toons have been this dedicated though my druid got the title at 69 (just before the level for Outland flying was lowered – druids at that time got flight form at 68) and my priest at 65 (she actually had explored all Northrend, Outlands, Kalimdor and Eastern Kingdoms with a single exception at 63 – but then had to wait til 65 to be able to fly to the Isle of Quel’Danos.) As my priest was running through the Argent Tournament I suddenly realised she was the subject of general chat – what was a 61 priest doing at the top of Icecrown?  Most thought I must be a gold farmer – though why one would farm in Icecrown on at 61 toon I’m not too sure – while one lonely voice suggested I might be exploring.  All in all, I had lots of fun going were no level 60 toon had gone before (well not many at least.J)

So if you want to explore – you don’t have to wait to 80, though of course you can.  My suggestions would be: (more…)

Beyond the fierce bulk of the allosauros-like King Dred and his smaller dino companions I could see the glittering column of moonlight.  My pulse quickened.  This was it …. in a few short seconds my main would pay her respects to this last elder.  Even as Elder and hunter bowed as one dwarf to another Elders of the Dungeons, To Honor One’s Elders and What a Long, Strange Trip it Has Been flashed up on the screen.  As has often been the case for me on reaching meta-achievements, it was the early hours of the morning server time, none of my friends or guildies were online, and the other members of the PUG were already rushing up the steep stairs to the next group of trash mobs.

It didn’t really matter that no one else celebrated the moment.  It felt great to finally have completed a meta-achievement that I had started working on some 16 months earlier, criss-crossing Azeroth trick or treating.  When, a short time later our pug had swept through Drak’Tharon Keep and bested The Prophet Tharon’ja, my hunter main hearthed to Dalaran and made a bee line to the mail box.  Soon she was flying in exhilarating circles around the floating city of Dalaran on her latest mount.    The Violet Proto-drake is a great color with a fluorescent violet mouth though perhaps a bit chunky (not as elegant and slim lined as my previous favourite, the bronze drake).  Best of all he is very fast (310%).  All in all, the proto-drake is one sweet ride and a fitting reward for several months of effort.

And indeed, it has been a long, often strange road full of fun and frustration, the culmination of many hours of game play.  The meta-achievement requires completing the majority of the achievements from most of WOW’s seasonal events:  All Hallow’s End, Winterveil, Lunar Festival, Love is in the Air, Noble Garden, Mid-Summer Fire Festival, Children’s Week, Brewfest (Pilgrim’s Bounty is not included).  Usually at least one of the achievements for each seasonal event can only be completed by higher level characters (often only at level 80 and usually 70+).   The achievements also span across the various types of game play, including tasks that require questing, grinding, drops, instances, raids, pvp and professions (such as cooking).  As the festivals span the year, a minimum of 10-12 months is required to complete the meta-achievement though, due to the level requirements of some of the achievements,  it often takes longer. (more…)

Little did I know, as I leant over my brother’s shoulder a couple of years ago, that my curiosity would lead me to a deep immersion in the strange, virtual world of Azeroth (created by Blizzard’s World of Warcraft).

Over the years, my brother has introduced me to a number of fantasy games and had often shown off the wonders of his latest favourite.  This one, more than all the others, drew me in with its rich colors, enticing landscapes, strange characters and different levels of discovery.   I soon graduated from looking over his (and his wife and daughter’s) shoulder (and interrupting them with questions) to occasionally getting the chance to play a couple of toons of my own (a night elf hunter and druid).  I loved it.  The joy of exploring new landscapes, of gaining skills and levels, of solving puzzles left me thirsting for more. These first glimpses and occasional short forays into the elfin forests of Teldrassil were my first introduction to the fascinating, wonderful, ambiguous and sometimes frustrating, world of Azeroth. (more…)