Knowledge is power. In a MMO, this is more true than a great deal of players care to admit. As we level, we find what works for us and we stick with it into end game. The problem with that is end game is designed to challenge us; to force us to think outside our comfort zone and come up with solutions we just wouldn't have thought of in solo play. I remember as my Alliance guild was moving out of Karazhan and into 25 man content, I had hit a DPS ceiling with my Rogue. I had the gear, but the knowledge ( some would say skill ) just wasn't there. I had grown accustomed to my backstab x5 Eviserate approach. It had served me well in Karazhan, so it should be fine for Serpentshrine Cavern, I believed. I couldn't have been more wrong. My class had more complexity than that, but it took someone else to show me the way. Knowing how to increase my DPS through better choices in ability rotation led me to a much easier solo game as well as PvP.
Without detailed knowledge of your chosen class, you leave a great deal of the power your class has to offer untapped. Tapping into that unknown power is the key to MMO greatness.
The following are just a few of the multitude of websites that can help you make that jump from an average WoW player to a great WoW player.
WoW Wiki
WoW Wiki is the wikipedia of World of Warcraft. Every playstyle can benefit from this site. It details everything from combat formulas for the number crunchers to the massive amounts of lore for the roleplayer. Almost any general WoW related question can find it's answer at WoW Wiki. If you play WoW and WoW Wiki isn't bookmarked, then you may be one of those players other players are complaining about.
Elitist Jerks
The Elitist Jerk forums have some of the most comprehensive class guides you are likely to find. Whatever you do though, do not post there. Let me repeat that. Do not post there. Any post you can make will only make you look foolish. These guys have forgotten more about WoW than you can hope to know. Use the search function, find the information you need, read and learn. Then thank the gods this site exists.
Arena Junkies
So you like the arenas, do you? Think you're all that, do you? Well, Arena Junkies will prove you wrong. This site is dedicated to all things arena. From strategies to class specific macros, this site will teach you what it takes to be a successful gladiator. After following the advice from Arena Junkies, you will watch your rating rise faster than you imagined possible. Don't be arena fodder anymore. Time to be the victor.
Be Imba
Be Imba is a strange site. For one it ends in .hu, which I honestly have no idea what that means. What I do know is that Be Imba is a powerful tool for every level 70 to use. It is a level 70 character auditor. Simply input your server name and character name then hit query report. What you get back is an audit of your characters armory. It will tell you where your gear is lacking, where you can improve your enchants and sockets. It will even tell you where you should be hunting to get better gear. This tool is a must view for every level 70 player, regardless of your playstyle.
WoW Pro
Are you leveling an alt and finding it's still a chore to level? Do you want to be level 70 as soon as possible and don't care one bit about anything else? Go to WoW Pro. Go to their leveling guide section and follow James Alliance/Horde leveling guide. Complete with maps, this guide will lead you by the hand step by step from level 30 to 70 for Alliance and level 21 to 70 for Horde. ( It should be noted there are other guides that lead into the James guides, they are just not written by James ) If you do as James directs, you simply cannot go wrong. You will level faster than you dreamed. And if you follow the guide, you will have enough quests left over after 70 to get you fairly close to your epic flying mount.
So there you have five great websites to help you become a better WoW player. There are tons of others out there and a good MMO player will learn how to find them and use them to their fullest. Arming yourself with all the knowledge that is available to you is the best way to meet your in-game goals.
Happy Hunting!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Next up: A focus on a few must have add ons.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Saturday, March 29, 2008
You should be listening! Five WoW Podcasts
Anyone who has ITunes installed ( and for those that don't, it's free and you should have it ) and plays World of Warcraft should do themselves a favor and subscribe to a few WoW podcasts. Some of them are amazingly informative, others are funny, and others are awful...but funny in how they are utterly full of fail. The following five podcasts are the cream of the crop. While not all are stunning, each of them offers information every WoW player should be aware of. If knowledge is power, these podcasts will make you a much more powerful player by expanding your general knowledge of the game.
The Instance
The Instance is without a doubt my favorite WoW related podcast. Its funny, its silly, its informative and its the most professionally done of all the WoW related podcasts. Scott Johnson is the main host. This is the brain behind ExtraLife radio, and the web comic, MyExtraLife. The Instance has just hit it's 100th episode and has features such as Mod of the Week from Patrick , PvP tip of the week from Mean Gene, guests and the ultimate co-host Randy "Deluxe" I cannot recommend this podcast enough.
The Instance
4 stars
Legendary Thread
1Up's official WoW podcast is done as a panel discussion with the same 4 or 5 people coming back episode after episode, informing us of their characters trails and tribulations and very informed game news. And I have to say Brian Scott's OCD approach to WoW, while not the focus of the show, keeps me coming back for more and more. The only problem with this podcast is it's lack of regularity. Releasing about a podcast a month, these folks really know their stuff and because it's a panel discussion, they come at the subject of WoW from nearly all playstyles.
Legendary Thread
4 stars
World of Warcast
Starman and Renata may not sound like professional broadcasters but that doesn't stop them from producing one very slick WoW podcast. I have to admit this show would have only gotten 3 stars had I done this blog prior to their last episode ( #57 ) but Renata really stepped up to the plate with her reputation "experiment" What she did in this episode is the definitive study in reputation gain and is a must listen for any WoW player interested in the ins and outs of this aspect of our game.
World of Warcast
3 1/2 stars
Epic Dolls
Epic Dolls hosts Leala and Arcavia voice this podcast with all the flair of two of the geekiest riot grrls ever to play WoW. These ladies know the game and deliver a decent podcast that is enjoyable enough to come back for week after week. Arcavia just finished leveling her FIFTH class to 70! ( yes, you read that correctly. She has 5 level 70 characters and still finds time to raid. Take that, noobs! ) Describing this podcast is difficult, so I'll give you some idea of why it's so good.
You know how there's always this clamoring about how girls game too and the female perspective on male dominated hobbies? There's none of that here. You get a female perspective from gamers who just happen to be female. None of the "we can do it too!" sloganing. They just do it. They do it well. And you should be listening.
Epic Dolls
3 stars
World of Warcraft Chronicles
The well produced Wow Chronicles gets a little lost in the crowd of WoW podcasts. An interesting discussion in every episode is guaranteed, but there's nothing that sets this podcast apart from the others. Often enjoyable, never boring, a listener would never regret listening to WoW Chronicles, but they aren't left craving more either. All in all, it's good enough to get your WoW podcast fix after you've listened to the other four and it's professionalism keeps it from failing like so many other WoW podcasts.
WoWChron
2 1/2 stars
And there we have the what are, in my opinion, the top five WoW related podcasts. All can be found for free on ITunes and make for great listening while grinding up your fishing skill, or working the AH to make your next 1000 gold.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Next up: Websites that will turn you from a WoW noob to a WoW Pro.
The Instance
The Instance is without a doubt my favorite WoW related podcast. Its funny, its silly, its informative and its the most professionally done of all the WoW related podcasts. Scott Johnson is the main host. This is the brain behind ExtraLife radio, and the web comic, MyExtraLife. The Instance has just hit it's 100th episode and has features such as Mod of the Week from Patrick , PvP tip of the week from Mean Gene, guests and the ultimate co-host Randy "Deluxe" I cannot recommend this podcast enough.
The Instance
4 stars
Legendary Thread
1Up's official WoW podcast is done as a panel discussion with the same 4 or 5 people coming back episode after episode, informing us of their characters trails and tribulations and very informed game news. And I have to say Brian Scott's OCD approach to WoW, while not the focus of the show, keeps me coming back for more and more. The only problem with this podcast is it's lack of regularity. Releasing about a podcast a month, these folks really know their stuff and because it's a panel discussion, they come at the subject of WoW from nearly all playstyles.
Legendary Thread
4 stars
World of Warcast
Starman and Renata may not sound like professional broadcasters but that doesn't stop them from producing one very slick WoW podcast. I have to admit this show would have only gotten 3 stars had I done this blog prior to their last episode ( #57 ) but Renata really stepped up to the plate with her reputation "experiment" What she did in this episode is the definitive study in reputation gain and is a must listen for any WoW player interested in the ins and outs of this aspect of our game.
World of Warcast
3 1/2 stars
Epic Dolls
Epic Dolls hosts Leala and Arcavia voice this podcast with all the flair of two of the geekiest riot grrls ever to play WoW. These ladies know the game and deliver a decent podcast that is enjoyable enough to come back for week after week. Arcavia just finished leveling her FIFTH class to 70! ( yes, you read that correctly. She has 5 level 70 characters and still finds time to raid. Take that, noobs! ) Describing this podcast is difficult, so I'll give you some idea of why it's so good.
You know how there's always this clamoring about how girls game too and the female perspective on male dominated hobbies? There's none of that here. You get a female perspective from gamers who just happen to be female. None of the "we can do it too!" sloganing. They just do it. They do it well. And you should be listening.
Epic Dolls
3 stars
World of Warcraft Chronicles
The well produced Wow Chronicles gets a little lost in the crowd of WoW podcasts. An interesting discussion in every episode is guaranteed, but there's nothing that sets this podcast apart from the others. Often enjoyable, never boring, a listener would never regret listening to WoW Chronicles, but they aren't left craving more either. All in all, it's good enough to get your WoW podcast fix after you've listened to the other four and it's professionalism keeps it from failing like so many other WoW podcasts.
WoWChron
2 1/2 stars
And there we have the what are, in my opinion, the top five WoW related podcasts. All can be found for free on ITunes and make for great listening while grinding up your fishing skill, or working the AH to make your next 1000 gold.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Next up: Websites that will turn you from a WoW noob to a WoW Pro.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)