Questing Together and Random Couple Thoughts

Last night Tatiaana, aka Tanya, and Valimonde, aka Mike, got  a long awaited chance to do some leveling.  With the holiday's upon us finding time to sit down and play together has been difficult to say the least.  Then it seems when we do get time to play we are so beat that we fall asleep while questing.  It is rough getting old sometimes.  *smile*  But we press on.  Why?  For a couple of reasons.

First and foremost, Tanya and I have been married for 18 years.  We enjoy spending time together, even when it is in short doses.  With all the distractions in our lives it can be hard to find a get away, or place to just run away and be silly or have a ball.  Playing a game we can afford to do that.  *snickers*  She wont let me post the pic of us running through the tunnel linking Lock Modan with the Badlands as we traveled to free one of Father Winter's deer.  Seems the tunnel was rather hot and our armor sort of fell off while we where riding through.  You know. . silly things.  *looks over shoulder hopping Tatiaana does not thwap me in the back of the head*

Another reason we enjoy it is the challenge.  Mike is a goal oriented, strive to do all you can do, learn every skill you possibly can, teach others if they wish to learn kind of player/gamer.  Tanya is a puzzle and problem solver gamer.  In the past these two styles did not always fit, but as we play and work together not only in game, but over the past 18 years of this thing called real life, we have learned how to take the differences and complement each other.  I am the one who knows how to kill a boss.  She is the one who knows how to get to the boss if its a puzzle.  It is these differences that help us enjoy ourselves even more as we play together.

Gone are the days of parking ourselves in front of the television watching mindless dribble.  Now we park ourselves in front of the computer interacting with other people who are playing a game just like us.  Some may find it silly or possibly juvenile for adults to find so much enjoyment in a game.  Recently World of Warcraft has been shot at by some pretty crazy allegations from the head of the FCC to would be competators in the MMO marketplace.  The facts are that a ever growing number of adults in the United States, as well as the world population, are starting to turn to video games as their preferred means of entertainment and social interaction.  Can and should it replace going out and meeting friends face to face?  No. . it should not replace such activities as seeing daylight.  It is however just as legitimate, if not more rewarding at times, than spending hours in an activity that might otherwise be dull and boring to you.

Tanya and I love to play.  I am more into the game by far than her.  Some might even think that we are obsessed.  Honestly the nature of such games is made to keep you playing.  To keep you pushing yourself to become better than you are now.  TO achieve and reach forward.  To work together and break down complex problems.  To. . well, you get the picture.  The game reflects life.  It is what you do with it, how much time you put into it that matters.

I digress.  Back on topic of playing together.  We found time after a long two weeks of grabbing an hour or two.  Last night we helped the guild run Nexus, Tatiaana got her Red Christmas Hat.  We hit 76 and are very close to hitting 77 and getting our wings back.  She is home today and we hope to get some "quality" us time in.  

Take time with your spouse or significant other if you play with them.  One of the best words of advice I can give to help you enjoy your time together is this.  Communicate.  *smile*  Talk, discuss, work out small issues so you do not get frustrated if your partner does not play the same way you do.  After all. . . that is the best advice for couples in the "real world" as well.

PastorPlayz Updated to Wordpress 2.7

After a little trouble in the upgrade path I, Mike the Geek Norton, have finaly updated PastorPlayz to 2.7.  I did have to delete everything and rename my plugin file. . but alas.  Its up.

Frosty the Deathknight was a jolly happy soul

Those of you who have known me for some time will understand my deep love of odd or non normal specs for a class.  I love the challenge of making a looked down upon rotation work, and I actually giggle when I can show that given the right player, any spec of any class can be useful in most situations.  With that said let me introduce you to Digory my frosty Deathknight. 

Let me take a quick step back before heading in to deep.  When the mention of the Death Knight class was introduced by blizzard I was one who . . well . . .I did not care really.  To me it sounded dark and foreboding, nothing like any of the characters I like to play.  Then they said you could tank or DPS with them.  Tank?  Without a shield?  pffft, the protection paladin side of me said.  I did not have any intention of playing one. 

Until I got my beta key.  While jumping for joy at the prospect of testing out Paravel, my restoration druid, on the beta I quickly found I had to wait and wait and wait for the character copy to go through.  So . . what to do. 

Shoot. . Ill roll a DK and see what all the fuss is about. .Ill probably hate it.

The opening quest set and starter zone I have to say and others have was . . . FAN STINKING TASTIC!  Oh my word. . By the end of my 58th level Digory, his name on the beta as well, had not only received a awesome armor set, but he had been redeemed!  W00t for character/life changing events.  But that is another story for another time, and I promise a few that I will post the RP side on the blog soon.

While playing my death knight I went with the frost tree.  Every one would cry out in /general, lrn2ply noob, every one knows blood is for dps, unholy is for pet and ice if for tanking!  I was worried at first, I had no intention of tanking with Digory seeing I have a perfectly good tankadin in Valimonde.  But, don't laugh, for rp purposes Digory had to stay frost.  And I am glad.

Frost is starting to prove itself as a viable DPS build.  I started reading articles and watching videos about frost.  The most information I gained was from a great post "Frosty DPS Discussion" over at Elitist Jerks.  You can head over and read all the discussion.  Some great information on builds and attack rotations.

Right now I am not shooting for many stats but attack power and strength.  It seems that quest rewards have been good to me and at the moment I am starting to see some fantastic numbers.  Last night my guild went into Nexus.  Our levels where all close.  DK 72, Tank 72, Marks Hunter 72, Disc Priest, 72, and a 78 Ret Pally. 

As we started the instance I worked hard to not pull agro, hit the tanks target and start my rotation of:

PS -> IT -> BS -> BS -> OB -> FS
PS -> IT -> OB -> OB -> FS

And here is what I saw at the end of the night. . To say I was happy would be an understatement:



At level 72 (I dinged 73 after the run and doing the Wrathgate event.  RPFIT!) I can say I am loving my frost Death Knight.  For a person who would normally get a DPS fix from my ranged hunter or mage, doing damage up close and personal is exciting and new.

As for a spec that is not looked favorably upon by others. . Well BOOYA!  Love doing cool things with the uncool!  But I will be uncool again as I run around and find more and more Frosty DK's.  Its Awesome, and why I love this game!

So, if you want to push the boundaries, if you want to have fun, if you want to be the type of person to show those who laugh at you that you can be good, no great!  Then try a spec others say sucks.  Give it a try, if you don't like it, its only a few gold to go back to the cookie cutter.