Winter’s Veil is here again with presents under the tree, including a Sweater to go carolling in, while the Abominable Greench – bigger, meaner and more ambitious than before – is doing his best to spoil the season’s fun. Even as the dwarves and taurens lament that Azerothians have forgotten the true meaning of Winters Veil; a huge green raid-style elite yeti, the Abominable Greench has stolen Metzen the Reindeer and the Winter Veil treats, impounding them in or near his cave in the Hillsbrad Foothills. Here he fiercely guards his spoils from all comers.
In 2011 Winter Veil remains substantially the same – though there are two main changes:
Firstly, the new ??? Boss Level Greench has stolen the Winter Treats AND kidnapped Metzen – so there is no longer the need to traipse over to Tanaris or Searing Gorge this year. On the other hand, the quest is now restricted to toons 80+. After accepting You’re a Mean One from Wulmort Jinglepocket (Alliance) or Kaymard Copperpinch (Horde), head to Growless Cave in the Hillsbrad Foothills. The Greench has 3.44M health and have some powerful indirect attacks (Abominable Crush & Throw Winter Veil Trees) as well as crowd control spell Throw Strange Snowman– all of which can be avoided by running out of range – and a stacking debuff Shrink Heart (removed by movement). The good news is that you don’t need to be in a party to get credit – even horde and alliance can combine to take him down. Once the Greench is defeated the evil gnomes guarding Metzen will run away, the reindeer is automatically freed and you will also be able to approach the cave and loot one of the sacks of stolen goodies. Even if you die during the fight or arrive after it, you can still get credit by speaking to Metzen and looting one of the sacks before the Greench respawns. Even better, defeating the Greench is now a daily and handing in the quest awards Stolen Present which has justice points and the chance of other loot, such as novety items, epic gear or Lumpy. It also gives the achievements Simply Abominable (retrieve the stolen treats and receive a Smokeywood Pastures thank you) and On Metzen! (save Metzen the Reindeer).
Secondly, two new achievements (not necessary to the meta-achievement Merrymaker) have been added A Gaudy Winter Sweater (open a Winter Veil gift under the tree near Father Winter to receive the sweater) and A Carolling We Shall Go (Wear A Gaudy Winter Sweater while carolling in each of the 4 opposite factions capitals (eg Stormwind, Ironforge, Darnassus & Exodar for Horde, and Orgirmmar, Thunderbluff, Undercity & Silvermoon City for Alliance). Only toons level 10 and over can get the Winter Veil gift with the sweater, though you need to be considerably higher to have a reasonable chance to carol in a hostile city! Once you have opened your present, equip the sweater and right-click to carol. A Carolling We Shall Go can be combined with the BB King achievement if you have BB gun from a previous Winter Veil though obviously pelting one of the opposite factions leaders with a BB gun entails more risk than finding a quiet spot to carol inside a hostile capital.
The other quests and achievements of the Winter Veil Season remain substantially the same as in other seasons. Check out Kharin’s guide Saving Winter Veil. A word of warning for 2011, check the durability of your Winter coat & Winter boots before attempting ‘Tis the Season. The clothes may be at zero durability if you have had them stored in the bank from previous years. In which case you will NOT get the achievement. This is particularly frustrating if you have only one piece of Graccu’s Mince Meat Fruitcake!
The original Grinch (Dr Seus’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas) hates Christmas (because “his heart was two sizes too small”) and sets out to ruin Christmas for the Whos of Who-ville by stealing all their toys, treats, food and trimmings – because he hated the festivities, singing and noise of the festive day. These days while very few would wish to remove such goodies from the Christmas season (least of all the retail industry), there is a growing call to make the celebration of Christmas less offensive to “others” by cutting out all pubic references to Christ and his birth (the traditional heart of the celebration). In the end neither the Greench of Azeroth nor Doctor Seus’ Grinch was able to spoil the celebration. As the Grinch hears the Whos singing on Christmas morning he finally realises “”Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store. “Maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!” Just maybe it does.
Wishing you all a wonderful and joyful Christmas with your family and friends.
Kharin
