Liquid Silver

A Horde Earning My Keep

nobody@vox.com(Hydra) — Tue, 13 May 2008 09:03:55 -0700

*stretches in the sun*

Hydra and Aurum gave me some time off. Apparently they have been taking the notes I have provided and are training up another Hunter for the 29 bracket. I hear she is a dwarf with a big gun. Good luck to her. Hope she has half the fun I have.

So here I am on the beaches of Booty Bay. Watching the scenery and licking the juices from imported fruit off my fingers. This gets interrupted by the wildlife interaction, like the undead that was trying to convince me that it was a nude beach.

*gnaw slurp chew*

That is Cutie with his new chew toy. We call it Mister Femur.

*grin*

My vacation was interrupted by a shadow.

I glanced up from my latest reading to see Cutie getting chin scratches from a very wide chested shadow. Hovering over me was a Draenei, a 70^th season Hunter. Clearly Cutie recognized this hunter from somewhere… There goes my bodyguard.

“Sorry to bother you on such a lovely day. You are Iridium, Hydra and Aurum’s contact on the Horde side.”

I recognize this Hunter too. He is Hydra’s ex-arena partner.

There is no denying my connection since apparently he knows Hydra first hand.

“It is widely known that Aurum has been looking for a specific blade for quite some time.”

Understatement… Aurum has been looking for one actively for eight months two weeks and four days.

“If you hurry you can acquire one.”

I start shaking. Is he for real? This would be a total coup. Cutie responded to my sudden excitement, by stretching nonchalantly.

“All you need to do is let her know where the information originated.”

Without a goodbye I ran to the Horde auction house. There it sat no more…

WoWScrnShot_051108_AssassinsBlade

The 225G for an Assassin’s Blade, this final piece, was a steal.

I shall wrap up the blade and send it as a late birthday gift to Aurum. Aurum will surely consider that Alliance Hunter as her favorite for the rest of the month maybe two.

Cannot wait to hear back on how she likes her new blade. I do hope she tells me how she decides to break it in… I am thinking it will be quite bloody.

*arrives back to beach*

I just earned my level 39 goodies. I hear that Hydra was able to get the Cobra Scale farmed out for my Nethercobra. Once some of the last mats are collected I will be well off to level to the next PvP bracket and some new fun will begin!

Well the trip to Origrimmar was not a complete loss for me.

*stretches in the sun*

I did get to pick up a new book. You think the hint is too subtle?

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Sunday With a WoW Addict

nobody@vox.com(Hydra) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:28:37 -0700

Occasionally I have a full WoW day on the weekend. This Sunday was one of them. I was going to live blog it or something but since I am unsure of what that means I will just go through this day. Leaving out most of the AFK times.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Wake up and do real life stuff.

10:10 Make food with Husband. We talk about WoW raiding and PvP. He tells me definitively “No, I don’t want a raid icon over my head.” Phooey.

11:15 I log into Hydra.

11:25 Look for in guild anyone that has Cat’s Swiftness. Got someone. Still need 5 X Primal Air to get the enchant. I don’t feel like farming the Airs or have the time right now. I buy them out at 28G a piece, which is 143% higher then pre 2.4 cost. Icky but what else am I to do with my gold. Aurum got her enchant from Nuk the Mage.

12:05 I am five minutes late! Server it is 14:05 and the fishing tournament has started. I am at Booty Bay to escort my two charges, two 19 twinks, Wizzy and Diem (Husband). They start fishing and I start killing.

12:23 Nuk the Mage wins the tournament! Congrats! He picks up the Arcanite Fishing Pole. And has a revelation to share with the guild.

WoWScrnShot_041308_NuktheMage

12:45 A friend who was escorting two other twinks loots the Cold Basilisk Eye. It is the lowest level trinket you can get without being an Engineer or doing PvP. We are always on the look out for it.

13:15 The Green Tower drops from some random basilisk. Woot! BoE purple drop! This is why you loot all shinnies people! I have never had something like this drop. It must be because you are here with me.

14:00 Fishing tournament ends. Boooo. Nothing! *shrug* Well there is always next week.

14:10 Hop onto the realm Torth horde side to start conversations between FE and WKP for when the 10 vs 10 will start. Calm the Vent people are yelling “There is no Rum in the bank!!” the lushes.

14:20 Aurum mail is full and SOMEWHERE in the pages and pages of mail are stacks of Rumsey Rum Black Label. FE is out and Hydra sent three mail-fulls to Aurum…

WoWScrnShot_041308_FEvsFE

Digging through mail. Posting stuff in AH, deleting Marks of Honor, DE low level items, and sending items to other players. Finally find the Rum!! Stick over 40 stacks into the FE guild bank. Pfft. That should shut them up.

I squeezed in a 3v3 against some other FE members. (Welcome Foeh! Last un-FE hold out.)

15:04 I receive a whisper for The Green Tower they want to give me 150G. Click to see who it is. Eek. They are from WM. I ask them what they are doing with it. Going to put it on their Pally. I pull it off from the AH totally knowing I could have gotten the 250G that I put it up for and sell it to them. I know it is a guildie and all that. BUT IT WAS PURPLE!! And I didn’t haggle. That is what they got out of the deal.

15:24 Call from WKP they are delaying the 10 vs 10 even further. At this point I already replaced myself cause I had a raid tonight. FE agrees cause they just want this done.

15:26 I log out to do real life stuff. Mostly to eat, bug Husband, and make sure dishes in sink don’t start to grow anything.

16:10 Log back in on Hydra and start Isle quests. I can get those done in the hour before raid time.

16:40 Get told that WKP never made it. Now there is forum smack talk because they finally got there team together three hours late. This is why I didn’t want to be involved in the first place. Well if I have any more say FE is done with the idea of a 10 vs 10 with WKP. They are on our time now.

17:22 Head back to Shatt, swing by the bank for consumables and repair.

17:30 I update yet again the newest version of Omen. Which since 2.4 has been a necessity before every single raid.

17:33 I’m invited to raid. This is going to be a guild tryouts run. WM has been running new applicants through Kara to see how everyone works together. I am hopping that we can do Shade but I don’t count on it.

We down Moroes, Maiden, Opera (OZ, no my hat didn’t drop. /cry), Curator, Nightbane, Illhoof and Prince. This Illhoof was the first time I lock tanked the Imps. The Lightning Capacitor dropped and I picked up for the shear fun factor.

21:17 Raid end.

21:26 For a while now I was getting called to a different raid…One on Orgrimmar. This was a close friend’s farewell raid. He was leaving for Army boot camp.

2008 April Org & UC Raid

They had already started so I hop onto Iridium to meet them there.

Well … you do know what her purpose is? Well I flagged up PvP and it took no time for my first death.

I hoped on Hydra after a while and helped guide the Alliance to Under City. Apparently Iridium’s notes to Hydra are well known. So I guide 40 Alliance into UC to wreck general havoc.

We then went to Duskwood to play with Emeriss.

EVIL CHECK: We summoned a level 27 looking for help with a quest in general chat right into the middle of the raid.

OKAY.

I SUMMONED her.

No hesitation.

It was funny.

WoWScrnShot_041308_Emeriss

00:11 We wipe. As someone said in raid chat “Still more fun then AB.”

Don’t fret. Three of us helped the level 27 with the quest and a blue BoE dropped. I told her to sell it for 15G in AH. “WoW that is a lot of gold!” It will pay for the trouble we cause her. She was really cool about it all. Thought we were nice to help her out. Guess she forgot who summoned her. *grin* See I still get to keep my Alliance card… almost evil.

01:22 We couldn’t have given my good friend a more perfect send off. The long tearful goodbyes started. Lots of chatting… He will be missed.

And then I passed out.

…

BTW… this is atypical. I didn’t do dailies Monday and logged on just at raid time and then logged off after. WoW in moderation people.

Pfft

Who am I kidding.

“Greetings my name is Kat. And I am a WoW addict.”

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Just one

nobody@vox.com(Hydra) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 11:00:29 -0800

I am self sufficient on the Horde side. At level 29 I am my own “Main”. Then one day I received a note from Aurum.

“Would you make contact with the guild DTK and tell them thanks for the great games. That J- rogue is a good player, start with him. Noticed while I was Backstabing him he had a nice … tabard…for a Blood Elf, just thought you should know.”

Sounds good… a new mission… wait… WHAT!

First Ratter was all concerned about needing a “friend”. He is an Orc and I totally respect his opinion, but I have a mission here. I need to focus. It looks like Aurum now has the same thought about me talking to people. These are just not things I would ask Hydra about … she can be kind of scary and evil like.

/sigh

I am supposed to be reporting back findings from the Horde side. So making contact with individuals that know Aurum would make sense. I would at least have something to talk to them about.

I made the initial contact for Aurum and it has been a boon. With my nose in the auction house I chat away with my new found friends. We have had many philosophical conversations about well… killing Alliance. *grin*

In one of my many meetings with J- in the Horde War Room I pinned him down to take a picture.

Iridium&Jaks

Much love comes by way to him from Aurum, which he seems to return, and extend to myself. Aurum is right… he does have a nice…*clears throat* …tabard.

This was a great start in this new mission. Apparently Aurum is recognized by some on the Horde side, which when I reported this back to her she was shocked. The information being sent to Hydra and Aurum has been well received. I continue my quest for contacts.

My guild is not a guild of one anymore. Mycalderick joined me a while back. We just have not crossed paths since. As luck should have it, he found me stranded in Felwood with resurrection sickness and my hearthstone on cooldown. (What I will do for a pretty dress.)

WoWScrnShot_022008_FelwoodMycal

We queued up for AB to get me out of that death trap. So we had out first Guild run!

Iridium&Mycal

We actually went up against some of Aurum’s colleagues in FE. *cue appropriate Alliance smack down music* They out damaged me and had a great healer…but you need to bring more to beat me.

Iridium&MycalGame

Recently I came against my first real WSG glitcher or exploiter. We still won.

There was a very handsome human rogue that showed up dancing in the Horde graveyard to protest the glitching. Without me saying a thing, Horde left him alive, but Precious did take a bite or two out of him. I was quite impressed with my teams honor.

WoWScrnShot_022408_Glitcher

In a conversation with one of the members of DTK, RJ said that he had someone that would like to meet me. Well I met him.

Iridium&Scrubbs

He rocked my world with his healing.

Iridium&ScrubbsGameHeals

When we would run together the boards would be very similar to this one.

Iridium&ScrubbsGame

But something unexpected has happened… his RL avatar is leaving for a year. My reaction?

Nooooooo!!!

/cry

Iridium&ScrubbsChat

*wipe tears of pain* I guess I am just going to have to learn to always run without my favorite healer. This maybe a good thing because I really think he looks better in a dress than I do.

Iridium&ScrubbsDress

What do I have to report? Horde are people too. With new friends it has been making my reports better… but Aurum is right … most do have nice… tabards.

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Another Horde hunter

nobody@vox.com(Hydra) — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 09:24:36 -0800

New Hunter Moly…

Moly is a Blood Elf on a PvP server. Wanted to try out a PvP server and see what the entire hubbub was about. I am really looking forward to getting ganked and camped for the first time! I know I am totally nuts but you know what? It is one of those experiences one needs to happen first hand.

And because I am TOTALLY addicted to the level 19 bracket of WSG I have a tendency to take an inordinate amount of time leveling out of this bracket, thus the only get characters to level 22. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen someone I knew, Aurum has killed or been killed by, and told them how much I loved playing them.

So with my green gear I go into WSG. At this point I have level 13 boots (which I fixed once I noticed) and a scope on a green bow. It gives me a chance to see the side of the non-twinks in the bracket. All I have to say to that is PLAY your class! *clears throat*

I queued up by myself to see what kind of PuG I would get and got teamed up with some members of . This was PvP PuG HEAVEN. This was a good test to see if I could keep up in my greens with fully twinked out teammates. I know when a non-twink joins up with Aurum all I am looking for is if they know how to play their class. So that is what I do… I play.

Moly Last games at 19 WSG

I compare myself to those on the list that are known twinks and you know what? Tied for highest HK and three less Killing Blows, I didn’t do so badly. Low for a hunter verses rogue but considering the gear it works for me.

This is also the first time I have seen an undead EAT someone. ICKY!! But it is times like these that I wish I had rolled an Undead Warlock. Sucking the soul out and THEN eating them?! I can see the appeal in that.

With 2.3.2 out with improved pet leveling, I need to get that final 260 exp to leave the bracket or I will never get camped!

Iridium…

My resolution of an Insignia of the Horde… I thought it cost 5000 honor. So that was what I was aiming at earning. It dawned on me that I should actually check. Well sure enough between when Aurum earned hers and now the cost must have reduced OR I am just getting old and forgetful. I think it is the second option.

Iridium Insignia

So I picked up my Insignia of the Horde with over 800 honor left. This is a huge step for me to get ready for the next bracket of level 30-39. I have picked up the Basilisk Hide Pants, Tracker's Wristguard of the Monkey, and Gloves of Holy Might (Someone put them up for 2G on Alliance AH months ago. So even with the goblins taking their 15% cut it was a steal. I will work with a connection to get them to the Horde side.)

But I maybe at 29 for longer than I intended, while looking for level 39 gear… I came across the Tigerstrike Mantle for level 29. I easily shelled out the 75G for that little upgrade. The seller even contacted me by mail and will do a free enchant for me which is really nice. I may see if they would be willing to do others for the gold, replacing some of those armor kits with Stamina, Intelligence, and Strength.

Hmmm… maybe I need the Horde Battle Standard before I move on.

Two macros that I don’t live without for my lowbie hunters in PvP:

To switch from Aspect of the Hawk and ranged attacks on my first bar to Aspect of the Monkey on the second action bar with melee-last-resort-before-I-die-abilities:

HunterActionBar

#showtooltip

/cast [noactionbar:1] Aspect of the Hawk; [noactionbar:2] Aspect of the Monkey

/swapactionbar 1 2

Because one is an instant and one occurs during the melee swing you can combine Wing Clip and Raptor Strike:

HunterWingClip

#showtooltip Wing Clip

/cast Raptor Strike

/cast Wing Clip

I am sure at higher levels things will change. I sure love getting off a Wing Clip before I die.

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New Guild and My own bank

nobody@vox.com(Hydra) — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 02:03:00 -0800

I have a new guild!
Name gifted to me by My Tank.

A La Mode

All my own.
Took me about 30 minutes to get all the signatures.
And even opened my own guild bank slot. I didn't have anything else to do with my gold after I bought all my scopes to level 55. It is a great place to put all my scopes for when I need them... *strokes shinny scopes*
and things I am waiting to sell.
The idea of a personal guild bank is fantastic!

Iridium Guild Bank Opens

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Boar’s Name Decided

nobody@vox.com(Hydra) — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 07:37:44 -0800

Boar has a new name. I was really hard for me to decide. But once I had this conversation with My Tank it was easy. And the fact that she was supported by others helped too.

Precious is Born

So meet Precious…

Precious the Pig

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Picture Album

nobody@vox.com(Hydra) — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 18:48:25 -0800

So I was cleaning out my screenshot folders. Found some fun stuff that I never blogged about.

So in no particular order.

After taking a two / three month brake from Aurum to work with Iridium. She wasn’t doing so hot in WSG. She was designed to run flags and that job was taken by a new druid in the ranks. It irked me… okay it made me grumpy.

Aurum not 110907

She is going to still need work. Still missing a blade or two. But readjusting her talents things have improved. She needs loving anyway since her enchants and are not the top she should have.

Aurum on top 111207

Here is a screenshot of our first picnic in Old Hillsbrad Foothills. I was so excited I filled up a bag with Mage food and didn’t want to log off. My Mage brings the picnic and I bring the cookies. Works for me.

First Picnic in Old Hillsbrad

Here I am Drunken Ram racing through Ironforge, of course this would be right by High Tinker Gelbin Mekkatorque. I was too drunk to tell if he cared or not.

Hydra Drunken Ram Racing in IF 101407

A bit later here I am seeing pink, which is so not my favorite color.

Hydra sees Pink Elephants 101407

Totally confused how this guy can have so many Squashling. Here I am asking mine if he can do that. Oh and notice the Hippogryph Hatchling? I have been sitting on my own for the last six weeks. I am thinking he would be a great pet for Aurum. The Legendary Loot card was given to me as a birthday gift from my sister’s boyfriend. Husband got a Murloc Suit for his. I love having an almost brother-in-law with a brother in management at Blizzard.

Hydra only wanted one Squashing 110407

Iridium ran around on a ram. Since it will be forever and a day for her to actually have her own mount it was fun checking out what it will be like for her to be on one. And she is so getting a Black War Wolf… but again forever and a day.

Iridium on Ram 100307

Oh I found this shot of some of my favorite twinky group. This is pre-Farstriders Elite and most are still spread around different guilds. Aurum’s friends list was constantly growing. And no Aurum doesn’t just sit around letting the guys have all the fun, too blood thirsty for that.

Nostalgic Picture Pre-Farstriders Elite 082407

*glee* Look what my fabulous Healadin did just for me!

Pally Song

Talking about Pallies. Here I am helping one get himself his level 60 mount. I think my flaming horse is better.

Pally Mount

More Pally pictures. Here is my Healadin as a Tankadin helping some lowbes through Deadmines. Yea that is my little warrior Plumbum who is being neglected but is in a fun guild called The Ministry of Sillywalkers.

Witness to Pally Power Leveling 091107

And here is Wrathbone hosting a Fireworks party outside Stormwind. When a couple of our members hit level 70 we like to throw a party for them because it is such an accomplishment. And yes we are behind. Sorry about that. I need more excuses to where my hats!

Party in Stormwind 081007

Grouping up with an old guildmate who moved onto a raiding guild was very nostalgic for me. Loved having him there and miss his humor greatly. But we just don’t raid enough for him and I am very glad he found a guild to fit his play style. We have been friends for quite a while and this was the first time in voice chat together. I find it totally appropriate for an almost married man to tell a married woman this… it is good for her ego.

Cute and Hawt

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You have to help me!

nobody@vox.com(Hydra) — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 18:57:24 -0800

I was very thankful that Mania posted my request to name my Boar. There were so many great suggestions and am excited at all the creativity.

I liked the Spaceballs ones but I wasn’t thinking about naming Boar any. I loved the idea of Dot, just because of the whole Warlock main thing, but no one would get that when they see Boar. Way to deep. If I did go Spaceballs it so would be Barfolomew. But being on an RP server it irks me seeing anything close to a Star Wars reference.

Okay I have picked some of my viable favorites….

Darling - Brash (PoopsieDarling was the actual suggestion but I not fond of multi words mashed together.)

Plecto (to punish) - Maree

Borium – Shelindria

Gorgeous – Arkie

Ballantine (whiskey) – Lure

Keikoku (japanese for Beauty) – Coltar

Precious - winterborn

Strontium – Maevet

Tasardur - Drakkena

Haldamir - Drakkena

So please help me. I have 10 choices above and only one Boar. If there are no clear winners I may just /roll the name.

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I'm Famous!

nobody@vox.com(Hydra) — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 00:36:28 -0800

Well I am at least the poster child for self help pet naming post over at Mania's Arcania. Mania posted for me a request to name my Boar.

*crosses fingers*

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Iridium’s Rocky Start in AB

nobody@vox.com(Hydra) — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 19:38:57 -0800

Iridium and Boar

All the leveling and prepping for Arathi Basin weeks ago … and I never went. I was scared. I ruled WSG with a heavy hand. Cutie always at my side killing Alliance chasing after my flag carrier. Or watching as the he ate his way through the priest while I shot down the Alliance flag carrier to return our flag. Great times. But had to move on.

Enter into AB.

Have a new unnamed boar at my side. We are unsure of each other.

You discovered the Farm.

Ugg… what a waste of a concussion shot with boar’s charge.

(He really needs a name. Ideas are welcomed. As sleek and smooth as Cutie is by my side. This Boar… has attitude and is not afraid to show it to me. *gulp*)

You discovered the Lumber Mill.

Okay died. Wait where am I?

What do you mean there are multiple Graveyards. I am so turned around.

Continue to attack, randomly picking places since I have no idea about strategy in AB. Just know more nodes need to be red.

[Random idiot] Hey, Iridium you AFK or something?!

[Iridium] Sorry, I have never been here before.

[Random idiot] Yea right.

What is he talking about??

I am doing damage! Really I am. We are winning right?

Pull up the damage screen. What is he talking about? I am forth in the overall damage done for Horde.

Then I see it.

Shit.

TWO killing blows. Yep. Forth in damage but just two in killing blows. Where the highest had 13.

I realized that I was playing “protect the WSG flag carrier”. The goal is not necessarily to kill the other team but to keep them away. I guess the answer was “Or something” to the idiot’s question since I was playing the wrong game.

My keys were all wrong. My shots were all wrong. My play style wasn’t right for AB. Must modify.

New night, new game.

Swapped my traps and adjusted my shots.

Round 2 went much better. Learned a lot from the first round.

Watched my maps more. Taking out stragglers.

Used Aspect of the Cheetah between nodes.

Freezing trap the rogue while I poked holes into the mage.

So I ended up third in damage and fourth in killing blows. /sigh So much better.

I am still wearing level 19 items. So there is much to be improved in gear. But I am working toward my Defiler's Chain Girdle first thing. Just 14 Marks of Honor left!

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