I first saw the news on Twitter.  Just a random short blub where someone mentioned they were disappointed that there would be no Blizzcon this year.

My first thought was “What the fuck?”.

My second thought was “Seriously, what the fuck?”

This had to be a joke, or some kind of mistake.  People always read shit into things, make up their own conclusions and chalk it up as fact.  That’s why people are stupid.   So I did a little research on my own, and unfortunately this wasn’t a mistake.  The words from Blizzard’s own mouth:

Blizzard Entertainment is proud to announce the 2012 Battle.net World Championship, a major global eSports event featuring some of the best pro-gaming competition in the world. Slated to take place in Asia toward the end of 2012, the Battle.net World Championship will host this year’s StarCraft II and World of Warcraft Arena World Championship tournaments. Blizzard gamers and eSports fans from around the world will be invited to attend and witness some of the most skilled pro players on the planet battle it out for cash and glory.

We’re excited to be showcasing Blizzard eSports on a truly global stage this year. We’re also heavily focused on getting Diablo III, Mists of Pandaria, and Heart of the Swarm into players’ hands as soon as possible. In light of our jam-packed schedule, we’ve decided to hold the next BlizzCon in 2013.

More details about the 2012 Battle.net World Championship and BlizzCon 2013, including specific dates and locations, will be coming in the months ahead.

The emphasis is mine, the bullshit theirs.  At least, I thought it was bullshit.   Looking on the brighter side, I won’t have to shell out several fistfuls of cash to attend this year.  If I really wanted to, I’m sure I could find something to fill the ‘con void.

Tales of a Gnome

It took all of no time for Hurc to reach level ten.  Actually he stopped questing at level nine and continued to gain experience strictly by skilling up his two gathering professions (mining and herbalism).  He finished the gnomish starter zone, picked up the sword he wanted, and then travelled to the warmer climate of Stormwind.   Thawed and ready to party, he hopped the next bird out of town and made his way through Elwynn Forest to continue his questing at the Eastvale Logging Camp.  Once he qualified for the Hero’s Call:  Westfall quest, it was time to move on despite there still being quests he could do where he was.  Best to move to a higher level zone and start knocking out quests that resulted in more xp.

During his time at the logging camp, Hurc ran into a priest who was having trouble killing murlocs.  He grouped up with her, and together they finished off a few of the quests she had yet to complete.  He was polite, helpful, everything one person should be to another in a MMORPG.  Just as they finished up their final quest, she asked  “Are you in a guild?”

Hurc paused, suspecting it might be a trick question.  Wouldn’t he have a guild tag over his head if he were actually IN a guild?  Polite, helpful, this was the mantra.  Also, there was no point in being a raging dick about it.  “Nope,” he replied.  “I was hoping to wait until level ten before I started looking for a guild.”

“Want me to see if I can get you an invite to mine?”

He’d seen her guild tag a few times before in Stormwind.  A quick bit of research revealed that it was a level twenty-five guild.  Generally speaking, level twenty-five guilds aren’t looking to fill their ranks with level ten characters.  But there was everything to gain, and nothing to lose.  “Sure!” he anxiously replied.

Leveling Protip:  Join a guild.  There are a number of perks to joining a guild, the most important to a leveler being an xp bonus.  A level two guild yields a 5% xp bonus, a level six gives the maximum of 10%.

A few minutes later, Hurc received his brand new guild tag.  He celebrated by picking mining nodes and herbs, reached level ten, then returned to Stormwind to buy skills from his trainer and camped out for the day.

Leveling Protip:  When you camp out for the day, do it either at an inn or in a city.  Always end your session getting the rested xp bonus.

As soon as he was able, Hurc picked up almost all of his professions:  Mining and Herbalism for primary professions, and Cooking, First aid, Fishing for secondary.  Archaeology had to wait until level twenty.  One of the upsides of taking mining as a profession is that Hurc will have the mats to create his own armor upgrades.  It’s cheaper to find someone with Blacksmithing and offer them a few coins to crank out armor pieces if they are being provided the mats.  Which he did in short order.

Making Low Level Gold

One of the things Hurc wanted to do was reach 100 gold before he left Stormwind.   That seemed like enough pocket change to buy some Netherweave Bags, pay for training, and the occasional Transmog.  Once he hit that mark, he tried repeatedly to pass this knowledge onto the number of beggers who wandered around outside the Auction House with cup in hand, asking for 100 gold.  “The balls on these people,” Hurc thought to himself.  “I remember the days when they’d just ask for enough gold to cover spells and training.  You’re level fifteen!  What the Hell are you buying that you need 100 gold!”

Also, it was easy to make that much cheddar.  This is what Hurc did in just a couple of days.

• He sold his herbs and ore (or bars, whichever was selling for more) on the AH.   He didn’t even do it very often, no mass farming here.  Just whatever he happened to have on him.
• Hurc had the very good fortune to be invited into a level twenty-five guild at level ten.  One of the guild perks was the ability to proc extra items of whatever he happened to gather.
• Daily cooking quest let him buy cocoa beans from the vendor, which he sold on the AH for 1-2 gold per bean.  At forty beans per quest, it’s a decent chunk of change at level ten.
• Fishing paid off by leveling it up and hopping the boat to Borean Tundra.  He fished off the dock and searched the coastline for pools which not only helped him further level up his fishing skill, but landed him fish that sold for 2-4 gold per fish.

And what about you?  Any questions or tips for people who might just be starting out in the game?  Leave a comment below and knowledge can be shared!

Every now and then, I find myself in a position to offer advice to “casual” players, or even new players who are leveling up a character for the first time.  Much of the information I have to draw from, though, is either old memories from back in the day, or things I have read and researched.  It’s not fresh, firsthand experience, and there’s no substitute for firsthand experience.

I’ve decided that this is unacceptable and have chosen to re-experience the World (of Warcraft) once again.  I will be starting a new character and will not offer any kind of artificial leveling assistance.

Interesting.  What race/class will you be using?

I will be leveling a gnome warrior.

Jesus.  Really?  I get the warrior part, but gnome?  Really?

I picked the gnome race for three reasons.  First, because they have a very cool 2-handed weapon fight animation, and since he’s fighting (and not knitting) his way to level cap, that’s important.  Second, because gnome warriors are the only race/class combo with access to a weapon I want to use and then transmogrify.  And third, because fuck you that’s why.

And you’re not helping this gnome out in any way?  No feeder cash or heirlooms?

Any gold this character has, he will earn on his own.  That’s part of what I want to experience – gold making at low levels.  I want to see how much gold he can make without any sugar daddy fronting him spending money.  He’s got to be able to pay for all of his training, professions, and mounts on his own merits, just like any new player would have to do for their character.

And as far as heirloom items go, he won’t be getting anything to boost his xp.  Again, just like any player new to the game or new to the server, he’ll have to grind without xp gear.  However, he will receive one item – Reforged Truesilver Champion.

Aha!  Cheating!  I thought you said no heirlooms!

This goes back to the weapon I mentioned before – the one only gnome warriors can get.  It’s a reward from a quest in the gnome’s starting zone.

If I can’t play SWTOR, this is the next best thing.

This is why he will be allowed to use the heirloom 2-hander.  As soon as he can afford it, he can transmute the sword into the Light Sabre and use it all the way to level 80, maybe longer.

How do you plan on paying for transmogging, or anything for that matter?

Again, part of the process I want to test out.  But don’t worry.  I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve.

Do these tricks involve meeting characters in one of the rooms at the Goldshire Inn for a little   /kneel, /nod action?

Who says romance is dead?

Okay, I’ve got a few other tricks up my sleeve.  And I’ll share all of that as I go along.

And who is this gnomish stud you’re planning on unleashing upon the world?

 I thought long and hard about it, and came up with something original.  A name that reflects the epic journey I’m about to undertake.  I present to you, Hurc, the pound for pound champion of awesomeness!

Naked?  Really?

It’s how I roll both in and out of the game.   Besides, Hurc has no need for clothes.  At least, not yet.  He may relocate to warmer climates though, so that more people can bathe in his raw, unencumbered awesomeness.  Also, when you’re that short and naked, trudging through deep snow is a good way to freeze off your gnomeballs.

And so, the journey begins…

I’ve listened to this thing about a dozen times, and that’s not counting video viewing.  Mad props to RevnGeek and the whole cast for putting this together!

Cast:
Day 1: Choir
Day 2: Kevin-Host SuperNumberOne Podcast and @TheFourtree
Day 3: Zhug <AIE> Earthen Ring US-Host: Convert to Raid Podcast
Day 4: JohnnyFeisty <AIE> Earthen Ring US-Segment Producer: The Hunting Hunter
Day 5: Choir
Day 6: AcuZod <AIE> Earthen Ring US-Host: AIE Podcast, Segment Producer: Overly Dramatic News
Day 7: Hunts the Wind <AIE> Earthen Ring US-Correspondent: Overly Dramatic News
Day 8: RevnGeek <AIE> Earthen Ring US-Segment Producer: Real Azerothian Heroes, Real AIE Genius and Raising a Raider
Day 9: Alludra <AIE> Earthen Ring US-Segment Producer: Alludra’s Pet Guide and Mannerly Mage
Day 10: Ghomus <AIE> Earthen Ring US-Host: AIE Podcast
Day 11: Kephas <AIE> Earthen Ring US-Segment Producer: Mod Minute
Day 12: Scott Johnson <AIE> Earthen Ring US-Host The Instance Podcast

Spoken Voices:
Koltrane <AIE> Earthen Ring US-Host Convert to Raid Podcast
Solarflair <AIE> Earthen Ring US-Host Convert to Raid Podcast
Athaerick <AIE> Earthen Ring US-Host Convert to Raid Podcast
BooBear daughter of RevnGeek and Jindeson-Talent: Raising a Raider Segment
Zhug <AIE> Earthen Ring US-Host Convert to Raid Podcast
Kevin-Host SuperNumberOne Podcast and Rad Bear

Choir:
Lurxx <Hysteria> Lightning’s Blade US
Altablast <AIE> Earthen Ring US
Jindeson <AIE> Earthen Ring US
HuntsTheWind <AIE> Earthen Ring US Overly Dramatic News Correspondent
Zhug <AIE> Earthen Ring US and Convert to Raid Podcast
RevnGeek <AIE> Earthen Ring US

Also, Ding 300 posts!

I guess I picked this Judgement armor because it looked like a super hero costume.  Like Spider-Man with knives on his shoulders.  But whatever, it’s Outland Heroic dungeons which means lockout, which means it takes some time to assemble the gear.

Head – Mask of Penance (BoP from Mekgineer Steamrigger in Normal and Heroic Steamvault, at a 22% drop rate)
Shoulders – Justice Bearer’s Pauldrons (BoP from Omor the Unscarred in Heroic Ramparts at a 16% drop rate)
Chest – Breastplate of Many Graces (BoP from Grandmaster Vorpil in Normal and Heroic Shadow Labyrinth, at a 17% drop rate)
Wrists – Virtue Bearer’s Vambraces (BoP from Broggok in Heroic Blood Furnace, at a 20% drop rate)
Gloves – Life Bearer’s Gauntlets (BoP from the Reinforced Fel Iron Chest in Heroic Ramparts, after defeating Nazan and Vazruden, at a 20% drop rate)
Waist – Girdle of Many Blessings (BoP from Rokmar the Crackler in Heroic Slave Pens, at a 16% drop rate)
Legs – Cassock of the Loyal (BoP from Hungarfen in Heroic Underbog, at a 15% drop rate)
Feet – Boots of the Watchful Heart (BoP from Captain Skarloc in Heroic Old Hillsbrad Foothills, at a 16% drop rate)

I have most of the visible stuff (if I get the legs/dress it will cover the feet, and the gauntlets cover the bracers) which has me pretty stoked.  Even though I admired the look in only his half-Judgement gear, it wasn’t until I transmogged his new swords that I notice how he’s rocking the color purple more than Oprah did -

Which works great for me since I like the color purple.  But then I swapped out the scorpion mount -

… and made a slight adjustment with his flying mount -

and what you end up with is what all the cool orcs are going to be wearing this year.

Edit:  Saturday, January 7 2012 I knocked another piece off the list:

Legs – Cassock of the Loyal (BoP from Hungarfen in Heroic Underbog, at a 15% drop rate)

Herc makes this look good.