WoW: Is Ashran The Worst Thing to Happen to PVP?

oc8yhNcI started out wanting to write a nice little opinion piece on the new PVP zone. Right after launch (well, after the launch DDOS/lag fest/6 hour queues fiasco) and leveling to 100, the zone clearly had some issues – but what new feature doesn’t? So, I waited. Like the first 2 hours of the queue I am currently in to get into the zone I waited patiently for issues to be hammered out, balanced to be restored, etc. But a month after the release of Warlords the zone is more and more abhorrent. It’s past the point where I can feel the issues are bugs and more so that they’re working as intended. It’s not balanced, it’s “required” (I’ll get to that) and it’s just not fun. So, instead of writing a nice opinion piece about a feature I was once so excited about – there’s a rant incoming. (more…)

A Friendly, Beta-Invite PSA

I’ve been waiting patiently (I mean anxiously, angrily, cynically) for a beta invite into Blizzard’s Heroes of the Storm, their new MOBA game, for quite some time. My several of my guild-mates have gotten invitations to that along with the recent World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor beta. But little ole me has been left to my own devices and release level games only. Then suddenly, my roommate announces his WoD beta invite! “Blast”, I think to myself, then congratulate him (I mean called him things that I shouldn’t repeat on here). But wait!

It was a phony!

And I saved him from clicking on the links in his email and doing who knows what to his computer and account. After reminding him to check his battle.net and Blizzard launcher directly… there was no WoD beta account ready.

So, a friendly reminder to all. If you think you have a beta invite for any of Blizzards games (or really any other emails of any sort) go to the source directly and don’t click on things in your email.

Warlords of Draenor Secondary Stat Changes

wow secondary stats warlords Easily among the aspects of Warlords of Draenor that I’m most excited about are the changes to stats. Not the item squish, mind you, that I still have some reservations about, but the secondary and new minor stats. As you’re likely aware, if you’re here reading an obscure gaming blogs WoW Post, several stats have been removed entirely. Dodge, parry, hit and expertise are gone. I’m very happy with the removal of hit and expertise. Those stats always felt so limiting. It was never a “boost” to reach their respective caps, just a pain when you didn’t and it always caused such touble in choosing gear. I’m a little more torn about dodge and parry. While I agree they weren’t very “fun” stats, they did provide a little something in making a tank feel like a tank and not just a dps with threat. I’m curious to see what tanking abilities and passives are added to make up for the loss of passive mitigation from the stats. The new stats, however, seem really fun. Follow after the break for a full list. (more…)

Why PVP Season 15 Makes Me Sad

World-Of-Warcraft-5.4.7-350x250

There’s a few things about the recently announced and soon to start PVP season 15 that came with patch 5.4.7 that have got me a little bit down. The biggest thing, easily, is that it means we’re a long, long, ways away from the expansion. There’s an achievement for reaching 27,000 conquest during season 15, at normal arena cap, that’s 15 weeks or nearly 4 months starting next week. Prior to that announcement, my friends and guildies were hoping that Warlords would launch around the same time as Elder Scrolls Online. We expected Blizzard to plan that to crush the upcoming game (as they tend to do, not that I wanted it), but apparently not. So, I mean, the disappointment is my own fault, not like it was announced, but it doesn’t make it any less.

The next part and (more…)