A Diary from Draenor

Always borrow money from a pessimist. He won’t expect it back.
Oscar Wilde

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A Diary from Draenor

Week One of Patch 6.2.3 is nearing an end.

I’ve upgraded four of my pieces to 2/2 via Valor Points. Last night in the raid, I didn’t really feel much of a difference. I’ll hope that it adds up in time.

The VP grind was as expected. It kept me busy early in the week and then tapered off. I’ll expect the same starting Tuesday.

Thanksgiving is coming! I’ll be with family, which is wonderful. Living a self-imposed reclusive life, I don’t think that I’m crowd-shy. I look forward to the party.

I have this idea about a block of text writing about nuts and romantic comedies. It’s stymied me all week. I left the page open to dabble on and realized I was not moving at all, even in posting a random blog entry.

Hearthcast has a terrific episode covering their experiences at Blizzcon. I love listening to Rewt and Freckleface.

Happy Hunting and my all your hits … be crits.

Hearthcast Again!

Read something positive every night and listen to something helpful every morning.
Tom Hopkins

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I was with my guild mates last night. We got Bronze on the Skyreach Challenge Mode and then turned around and did the Mythic version for the weekend bonus quest.

My Guild Master says, “Did you listen to Hearthcast yet this week?”

Whoa, no I had not but I sure did this morning!

I got ANOTHER mention from Rewt and Freckleface on this week’s Hearthcast. The topic, again, was leveling and he mentioned my post right here on Coffee Cakes and Crits.

A banner day, I tell ya.

He was talking about late leveling and finding Treasures for XP. My experience is that the quests are generally around 20,000xp and a treasure found is worth 30,000xp.

My own experience is that the treasures can only be found in the zone of your level or lower. So, at 91, you can only do Shadowmoon Valley. As you level up, the treasures then become available in Talador, Spires, etc.

I did to some treasure hunting in Shadowmoon Valley at level 91 (I can fly!). I used the Handynotes addon with Dreanor Treasures. I found SMV to be a bit tedious: they are hard to find! Little clicky cogs hidden in the weeds was my dire experience.

On the other hand, the whoosh from 98 to 100 features Nagrand! These treasures are easier to find since many are part of Jumping Puzzles and the goal must be seen. I really enjoyed the speed and ease of leveling via Treasures in Nagrand.

You can use Excess Potion of Accelerated Learning from your Garrison Quartermaster for a 20% boost to XP for a full hour! (Remember the Elixir of the Rapid Mind is only 15 minutes). The Excess Potion is a mere 100 garrison resources and a nice perk if you choose to level via flying and Treasure Hunting.

Once again: visit Hearthcast for all your podcast needs and entertainment.

Thanks Rewt and Freckleface!

Progress Report

I can’t write five words but that I change seven.
– Dorothy Parker

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Hotcha! I got a mention on the podcast: Hearthcast.

I wrote them earlier in the week and they mentioned my post on the Elixir of the Rapid Mind. I am a big fan of their podcast and so honored to be mentioned.

This blog is moving right along. I have visitors from all over the world, which is thrilling. My most popular visits are on Fun Toy Box Macros and my How To articles, like farming felblight or my vudho set up for healing.

I don’t think many read my opinion pieces! It’s not really expected to get much interest, but the exercise in writing is always a treat.

The game is still a lot of fun. I have the two-piece tier set on my hunter and druid. I have the legendary ring on both as well. And I got the feat of strength, Predator, yesterday.

It’s a good day to be in Dreanor and Azeroth.

Hearthcast Episode #276

Sometimes the first duty of intelligent men is the restatement of the obvious.
George Orwell

Hearthcast Episode #276

I am a big fan of Rewt and Freckleface. I’ve been following their Podcast, Hearthcast, for years. Here is a link to their podcast: Hearthcast.

As my alias, Scaresome on Runetotem, I’ve been involved a little by writing e-mails of which they covered more than a few times and I even won a contest.

This episode, and why I’m mentioning it, covers some current material right in the Tanaan Jungle that applies to you and me: right now. They are far more thorough in their explanations that I ever could be: so give them a listen.

I think one of my greatest fears is “missing the obvious”. This can be failure to start a retirement fund earlier in my life to a girl standing in front of me; telling me that she loves me.

With “this month only” the obvious path to clearing your daily objectives is twofold: get an addon and group using the Custom tool. It’s a daily grind but will be brief. An addon to keep track of the Hellbane guys and the bonus objectives is covered in their podcast.

Don’t miss the obvious and go have a listen!

Big Red Kitty on Hearthcast

Calvin: It’s a magical world, Hobbes, ol’ buddy…Let’s go exploring!

Hearthcast Episode #259: You Like Hunters? We Like Hunters!

I’ve been listening to Hearthcast for years. I don’t miss an episode, it is part of my morning dailies. Rewt and Freckleface are funny and engaging and as casual as I am.

Hearthcast has expanded some, they also play other Blizzard games besides WoW. Freckleface likes her card game. They both play goblins and I feel like they are my friends. From them I’ve learned of other podcasts like The Training Dummies. They play games within the show, have contests and simply have a ball. They even host meet-up groups in Florida. They are brilliant WoW community.

This weeks episode brings an interview with Big Red Kitty.

BRK began blogging in mid-BC when blogging was new. He was an instant hit with his hunter knowledge and his distain for rogues. He had an enthusiasm for the game that made you want to go play some more. His blog was hunter-centric with some clever lobs at “the lesser classes.”

He is still a tech savvy guy. Back then, he would often post three minute videos on his blog about “how to” do a something. This is why I still have an Ooze hunter pet from the Shalozar Basin. BRK was the man.

As he grew in popularity, Wow Insider hired him and he moved over there with a bi-weekly column, as I recall. Each posting was eagerly anticipated, often I would take notes so I could apply his advice in game. Still, his blog continued with even more.

When Cata was being designed, BRK was asked by Blizzard to help test the game. It was thanks to BRK that hunters now start with pets at level one! That is huge and necessary. I believe he got some of the spells moved to be learned at the right level and a host of other things.

He has an in-game item. The BRK-1000 is a rifle (of course, a gun) though I heard on the podcast that you can’t get it any more. That must be fixed immediately.

Then, his wife came down on him.

It was her or the game.

BRK shut down his blog. He quit the game.

He disappeared. He continued his blog but it was stripped down to “my trip to the grocery store” type postings.

His wife divorced him anyways. Even I feel bitter about it and I wasn’t there. That was some cold shit.

It’s now been years. And today, to my huge and great delight; BRK visited Hearthcast for an engaging interview. He is so funny and cheerful. His enthusiasm for the game is infectious.

Click the link at the top of the page for the interview and for a good taste of my favorites: Rewt and Freckleface.

/salute.