Sometimes It Just Works

Been playing with different Constructed decks. It's been a little frustrating at time but I have learned a number of things. And there have been some laughs...



This video is based on a Bouncy Rogue deck that I tweaked. Also tried some Priest Zoo and Rogue Tim. Still haven't found "my" deck.

Mainly for the Murloc

Got a few more games in with my 3v3 team last night but they haven't appeared on the ladder yet. So as of last week the team was at #262 of 559:

Not exactly a proud showing I know but frankly rather beyond out expectations. We only signed up to get the 50 games in for the Murloc. Each of us has a mildly competitive streak so we didn't want to just roll over. Surely there are a few pet-only teams we could dispatch. And it felt good to do so.

Unfortunately the rankings go up fast when winning so we quickly faced some of the more serious players. Once we neared a 1000 last night it got rough. Even in the struggle we still did okay. There was one team of a Warrior, Monk, and Hunter that beat us twice:

Yet the third time we faced them we won:

That felt pretty good. The recognition of potential as we learn to work as a team. Even though none of us even do Battlegrounds. So tonight I'm going to ask my teammates if they'd join me in a 3v3 back on Live. Nothing to serious, but just get in the ten games a week. Add a little spice to each lock out for now. Next season... maybe the title?

Secretly I'm sure all three of us wouldn't mind the Vanquisher title but … yeah. Little late now with zero preparation—which shows. We have yet to break 1000 and we have 40 games in. See what it's like after the 10 tonight. *snicker*

Leather Tanking

All stuff I've known or deduced, but nice to see clearly. Going to have the fifth spec be tanking for sure:

Any Raid Riftstalker Tanks?
Artemis, Today 02:56 PM

Yes I am my guilds "Main Tank", and currently I main tank Greenscale Blight every weekend. And I am also able to main tank Raid Rifts with ease. Here is my build/breakdown.

Finisher's To Rotate
Rift Guard (Most Important)
Guarded Steel
False Blade

Abilities & Buffs/DeBuffs To Keep On
Phantom Blow (x3)
Rift Disturbance
Planebound Resilience
Combat Pose
Predatory Instincts

Taunt Abilities
Instigate (Single Target - 3 Seconds)
Planar Attraction (Multiple Targets - 3 Seconds)
Planar Strike (Single Target High Threat Ability)

AOE Abilities
Shadow Blitz (Begin fights with this ability.)
Rift Disturbance (Great follow up ability for additional threat, and damage.)

Tank Abilities
Side Steps
Planar Refuge

Simple Guide to Pulling

1. Blink in using your AOE ability: Shadow Blitz.
2. Force taunt, and warp in all enemies using: Planar Attraction.
3. Follow up with an AOE damage ability, which also reduces enemy damage: Rift Disturbance.
4. Immediately activate tanking ability: Side Steps to compensate for low armor / damage reduction.
5. Acquire 5 combo points using three Phantom Blows, and 2 Planar Strikes.
6. Immediately finish with Rift Guard.
7. Activate Planar Refuge if necessary.

Further comments mention using Blade Dancer's Twin Strike to spread more threat around, which I need to try.

The only thing that surprises me about his spec is that he didn't put the final point in Rift Stalker for Scatter the Shadows. Clearing all cleanseable debuffs and going damage immune for three seconds seems ridiculously good, even in a raid setting. Is the 2% damage reduction from the Ranger's Bolster really worth the trade? Going to post a reply.

First Expert

Was doing Icewatch dailies when I saw someone needing Support and DPS for an Expert. Hit my LFG macro and got an invite. A guildmate said the main requirement for T1 dungeons is 50 Hit for melee or 50 Focus for casters. Both my weapons have +26 Hit so I was "good" by this standard. Now the real test.

The Queen Bug -- serious annoyance!

It went fairly well. Both Warriors were from the same guild and had been through a number of Experts already. The Priest and other Rogue were from the same guild and worked well together. All in all, it went well. Only two wipes. Picked up some Gnarhide Wraps off the Queen along with 8 Plaques of Achievement and 2 Forlorn Souls. Had no idea what either of those were.

Turns out the Plaques are armor currency, akin to Justice or Valor Points in WoW. Wasn't sure where to spend them but I correctly guessed the vendor would be in the Catari Command Center. Was a little dismayed to find a full set of gear will cost 1000 Plaques: belts, boots, and gloves cost 100, helm and shoulders cost 150, chest and legs cost 200. That's a lot of goddam farming.

I noticed ZAM didn't have the vendor, Narnlie Leighton, filled out so I spent twenty minutes entering all the armor then uploaded a screenshot. Hope more people do the same since there's no addon to help populate data.

Anyway. Time to research what faction gear is available so I know where to spend Plaques.