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Not everything is going to be burned to a crisp when Deathwing nukes Azeroth. Some areas, such as the godforsaken quillboar-hole known as the southern Barrens, will be given new life. WoWarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Thrall&cn=Naliaah”>Naliaah of <Cryptìc> on Thrall (US-H) sent in this picture of a beautiful glowing green watering hole in the new … wait, glowing? Someone break out the Geiger counter and the Rad-X. We’ve got a situation on our hands.

Filed under: WoW.com/category/around-azeroth/” rel=”tag”>Around Azeroth

WoW.com/2010/08/29/around-azeroth-beta-edition-im-going-down-by-the-river-where-i/”>Around Azeroth Beta Edition: I’m going down by the river where it’s warm and green originally appeared on WoW.com”>WoW.com on Sun, 29 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Note: The above is not a live stream. It is the video of Wednesday’s live Cataclysm beta stream, which contains spoilers.

If you want to know what the O-Team is, you have to go a little over an hour into the stream to see. Or you can wait until Wednesday’s story post, when I’m sure Robinemia will have something to say. At least one of the viewers in the chat channel came up with the name. I am just appropriating it.

Adventurers who play when they can

• Fox Van Allen as WoWarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Zangarmarsh&cn=Foxlight”>Foxlight, the level 22 blood elf paladin
• Lisa Poisso as WoWarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Zangarmarsh&cn=Prupher”>Prupher the level 10 tauren druid
• Michael Sacco as Shockbroker, the goblin shaman
• Christian Belt, as WoWarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Zangarmarsh&cn=Selfloathius”>Selfloathius, the level 16 blood elf warlock
• Elizabeth Harper as WoWarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Zangarmarsh&cn=Faience”>Faience, the level 24 troll shaman
• Matthew Rossi as WoWarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Zangarmarsh&cn=Andrenorton”>Andrenorton, the level 17 troll mage
• Michael Gray as WoWarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Zangarmarsh&cn=Grayfields”>Grayfields, the level 17 tauren hunter
• Gregg Reece as WoWarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Zangarmarsh&cn=Sandwichdoc”>Sandwichdoc, the level 16 troll shaman

Polls are after the break.

WoW.com/2010/08/20/choose-my-adventure-the-o-team/” rel=”bookmark”>Continue reading Choose My Adventure: The O-Team

Filed under: WoW.com/category/it-came-from-the-blog/” rel=”tag”>It Came from the Blog, WoW.com/category/choose-my-adventure/” rel=”tag”>Choose My Adventure

WoW.com/2010/08/20/choose-my-adventure-the-o-team/”>Choose My Adventure: The O-Team originally appeared on WoW.com”>WoW.com on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New around here? WoW.com/category/WoW-rookie/”>WoW Rookie has your back! Get all our collected tips, tricks and tactics for new players in the WoW.com/rookie/”>WoW Rookie Guide.

You’re not really a rookie — but man, it’s been ages since you last played! Azeroth feels like a whole new world. A “dungeon finder” — huh? And why are all these people pelting you with friend invitations that have real-life names attached?

As more and more former players start peeking their heads back into the game in anticipation of the launch of Cataclysm, we’ll be seeing more and more uncertain vets fumbling through mechanics and features even those rookies among us now take for granted. What’s the best way to get back up to speed after an extended time away from WoW? Reader Anthony writes:

I used to be an avid WoW player but quit about a year ago (just before patch 3.1). I have been entertaining the idea of getting back in the game but am kind of intimidated, because I think there probably have been so many addons to the game since I left, I’ll be totally lost. I used to use your website as a resource and visited it daily when I did play, but I stopped after I quit playing. So I’m not really sure what has changed.

And I am also not really sure if it’s a good time to pick up playing again because of the expansion that’s supposedly coming out. So I was wondering if there could be any way that someone on your team could give me a quick little up-to-speed brief on some of the changes that have happened, mostly with the gameplay aspects; I’m not overall concerned about new raids and stuff. I used to raid all day, every day when I played before but would rather just ease into that later. So if there’s maybe a link or something, I would greatly appreciate it.

A “link or something”? WoW Rookie can certainly oblige. Join us after the break for a healthy dose of tips on getting your bearings if you’ve been away from WoW for quite some time.

WoW.com/2010/08/19/WoW-rookie-coming-back-to-WoW-after-a-break/” rel=”bookmark”>Continue reading WoW Rookie: Coming back to WoW after a break

Filed under: WoW.com/category/WoW-rookie/” rel=”tag”>WoW Rookie, WoW.com/category/cataclysm/” rel=”tag”>Cataclysm

WoW.com/2010/08/19/WoW-rookie-coming-back-to-WoW-after-a-break/”>WoW Rookie: Coming back to WoW after a break originally appeared on WoW.com”>WoW.com on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: WoW.com/category/mage/” rel=”tag”>Mage, WoW.com/category/analysis-opinion/” rel=”tag”>Analysis / Opinion, WoW.com/category/arcane-brilliance/” rel=”tag”>(Mage) Arcane Brilliance, WoW.com/category/cataclysm/” rel=”tag”>Cataclysm

It’s time again for Arcane Brilliance, the weekly mage column from the author of Don’t Break My Sheep: Diary of an Angry Mage and 101 Ways to Cook Warlock.

This is going to be slightly shorter and even more rushed than usual, guys, because new baby. I’d post pictures, but this is the internet. I’ll wait till he’s a bit older and can ruin his own life. The kid’s our third, our first boy, and I’ll only say one thing about that: After two girls, I simply wasn’t prepared for the peeing. Seriously, the kid fires that thing straight up, without warning, and with laser precision. I’ve taken to placing a washcloth over his loins during changings, a tip suggested by my genius wife.

Now that I’ve grossed you out, let’s move on to today’s topic: awesomeness. Paternity leave from work has given me some extra time between hilarious eye-peeing episodes to fiddle in earnest with my mage on the beta. And though I have some complaints, I’ll save them for another week, one in which I’m not still basking in the afterglow of seeing my wife push a baby out from her nether regions. I’m too happy to complain this week, so if you’ve come here looking for constructive criticism, you’re in the wrong place. Join me after the jump for a few of my favorite things about each of the three mage specs in the beta.

WoW.com/2010/08/21/arcane-brilliance-these-are-a-few-of-my-favorite-things/” rel=”bookmark”>Continue reading Arcane Brilliance: These are a few of my favorite things

WoW.com”>WoW.com” style=”float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0″ />WoW.com/2010/08/21/arcane-brilliance-these-are-a-few-of-my-favorite-things/”>Arcane Brilliance: These are a few of my favorite things originally appeared on WoW.com”>WoW.com on Sat, 21 Aug 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

WoW.com/2010/08/14/arcane-brilliance-these-are-a-few-of-my-favorite-things” />Read | WoW.com/2010/08/21/arcane-brilliance-these-are-a-few-of-my-favorite-things/” rel=”bookmark” title=”Permanent link to this entry”>Permalink | WoW.com/forward/19593984/” title=”Send this entry to a friend via email”>Email this | WoW.com/2010/08/21/arcane-brilliance-these-are-a-few-of-my-favorite-things/#comments” title=”View reader comments on this entry”>Comments

No particular reason for today’s video. It’s just a Bon Jovi kind of day here at WoW.com. Besides, isn’t this an inspiring message? We can all learn a great deal from Tommy and Gina. A great deal.

JR asked:

OK, I have a very serious question. Is the Lakeshire bridge complete yet? For three years, my toons have been killing gnolls for pikes and rivets to repair that damn bridge. If that thing is not finished when Cataclysm hits, I’ll be very mad. I’ll take this all the way to the top and make sure a full-scale investigation is conducted. And I don’t care about Foreman Oslow’s rumored ties to the Defias, he won’t keep me down this time.

Given that this is a fairly contentious plot point for Cataclysm, I’ll keep the answer after the break.

WoW.com/2010/08/09/the-queue-live-for-the-fight/” rel=”bookmark”>Continue reading The Queue: Live for the fight

Filed under: WoW.com/category/the-queue/” rel=”tag”>The Queue

WoW.com/2010/08/09/the-queue-live-for-the-fight/”>The Queue: Live for the fight originally appeared on WoW.com”>WoW.com on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Happy Tuesday morning, everyone. The big news this week has the been WoW.com/2010/08/03/cataclysm-brings-new-launcher-and-patch-process/”>the beta test of the new patch process and launcher, which allows you to play even when your patch is only partially done. WoW.com/2010/08/07/wrup-infuriating-launcher-detected/”>I’ve tried it out myself, and I must say, it’s quite a feeling logging into Acherus to see nothing but the Eastern Plaguelands spread out below you for miles as the hold itself shifts into being around you. It’s sort of crazy. Still, I imagine most of the time I’ll just wait for the download to finish.

There is, of course, plenty of other news to catch up on. If you’re waiting out this morning’s rolling restarts, why not check and see if you missed anything from the past few days? Our usual roundup awaits after the break.

WoW.com/2010/08/10/tuesday-morning-post-adventures-in-beta-patching-edition/” rel=”bookmark”>Continue reading Tuesday Morning Post: Adventures in beta patching edition

Filed under: WoW.com/category/realm-status/” rel=”tag”>Realm Status, WoW.com/category/news-items/” rel=”tag”>News items

WoW.com/2010/08/10/tuesday-morning-post-adventures-in-beta-patching-edition/”>Tuesday Morning Post: Adventures in beta patching edition originally appeared on WoW.com”>WoW.com on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Welcome to the Wednesday edition of WoW.com/category/spiritual-guidance/”>Spiritual Guidance, hosted by WoW.com/bloggers/fox-van-allen”>Fox Van Allen, consort to the shadows. Don’t mind any distracting grunting you hear coming from under the floor boards. WoW.com/bloggers/dawn-moore/”>Dawn Moore isn’t buried alive underneath there, I promise. She just needed to take today off. You know. For … um … I dunno, I think she’s one of the Hollywood Squares this week. Who cares, whatever, she’s gone.

Oh, hello shadow priests. Please come in. Shut the door behind you.

Have a seat. We need to talk.

I’ve been hearing rumors on WoWpopular.com about WoWpopular.com/Priest/Shadow”>your top major glyph choices, and frankly, I’m concerned. It’s telling me that the WoWhead.com/item=42406/”>Glyph of Shadow Word: Pain is the most popular for shadow priests. Madness! And my god, are you really casting WoWhead.com/spell=48071″>Flash Heal that often that you want to glyph for it?

Look, look, it’s okay. It’s not your fault. You’re the victim here. You chose what you thought was a good glyph, and it’s been letting you down. I can help.

After the break, we’re going to run down the list of the top ten most popular shadow priest glyphs and pick them apart, one by one. Hopefully, in the process, we can get rid of your cookie cutter build and find you a great new set of glyphs that matches your play style.

WoW.com/2010/07/28/spiritual-guidance-the-top-ten-shadow-priest-glyphs/” rel=”bookmark”>Continue reading Spiritual Guidance: The top ten shadow priest glyphs

Filed under: WoW.com/category/priest/” rel=”tag”>Priest, WoW.com/category/spiritual-guidance/” rel=”tag”>(Priest) Spiritual Guidance

WoW.com/2010/07/28/spiritual-guidance-the-top-ten-shadow-priest-glyphs/”>Spiritual Guidance: The top ten shadow priest glyphs originally appeared on WoW.com”>WoW.com on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WoW.com/category/choose-my-adventure/”>Choose the adventures of the WoW.com staff as we level our characters in <WoW.com/category/it-came-from-the-blog/”>It came from the Blog> on Zangarmarsh (US-PvE-H).

My fellow WoW.com/category/drama-mamas”>Drama Mama, Lisa Poisso, will be joining the Choose My Adventure gang. Try not to scare her away. First schedule, then polls:

• Fox Van Allen as WoWarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Zangarmarsh&cn=Foxlight”>Foxlight, the level 22 blood elf paladin: Friday, 8 p.m. EDT
• Michael Sacco as Sahko, the orc warlock; Christian Belt, as WoWarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Zangarmarsh&cn=Selfloathius”>Selfloathius, the level 15 blood elf warlock; Elizabeth Harper as WoWarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Zangarmarsh&cn=Faience”>Faience, the level 24 troll shaman; Matthew Rossi as WoWarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Zangarmarsh&cn=Andrenorton”>Andrenorton, the level 17 troll mage; Michael Gray as WoWarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Zangarmarsh&cn=Grayfields”>Grayfields, the level 17 tauren hunter; and Gregg Reece as WoWarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Zangarmarsh&cn=Sandwichdoc”>Sandwichdoc, the level 15 troll shaman, will be making appearances as they can.

We have polls for Lisiel, Sandwichdoc and Patent after the break.

WoW.com/2010/07/23/choose-my-adventure-welcome-lisiel/” rel=”bookmark”>Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Welcome Lisiel

Filed under: WoW.com/category/it-came-from-the-blog/” rel=”tag”>It Came from the Blog, WoW.com/category/choose-my-adventure/” rel=”tag”>Choose My Adventure

WoW.com/2010/07/23/choose-my-adventure-welcome-lisiel/”>Choose My Adventure: Welcome Lisiel originally appeared on WoW.com”>WoW.com on Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More after the break.

WoW.com/2010/07/23/cataclysm-beta-garrosh-and-sylvanas-voice-clips/” rel=”bookmark”>Continue reading Cataclysm Beta: Garrosh and Sylvanas voice clips

WoW.com/2010/07/23/cataclysm-beta-garrosh-and-sylvanas-voice-clips/”>Cataclysm Beta: Garrosh and Sylvanas voice clips originally appeared on WoW.com”>WoW.com on Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WoW.com/tag/for-gnomeregan/”>For Gnomeregan! is where the members of <B.L.O.G.> on Shadow Council (US-RP-A) roleplay guild meetings as part of an in-blog and in-game RP campaign. The rules for this campaign are: no ERP (Erotic RolePlay) and no vampires (though death knights are welcome). Everyone is invited to participate. Assume that to get into the guild, you at least pretended to be in full use of your faculties and are willing to fight for the cause. You are all welcome to join us here in the comments and those who wish to play with us in-game should friend Peenk and ask for an invite on Shadow Council (US-RP-A).

Thank you for coming to this emergency meeting. Our representative with WoW.com/2010/04/08/operation-gnomeregan-imminent/”>Operation Gnomeregan has contacted me with the news that WoW.com/2010/07/19/24-hour-maintenance-for-select-servers-on-tuesday/”>many new refugees are about to arrive at Coldridge Valley. They have requested that we accommodate them by incorporating the refugees into our guild and feeding them.

Hands Springsprocket has also contacted me. It seems that he needs to get a large number of supplies to Thunderbrew Distillery. So we are not only going to allow these refugees to join us, we are going to put them to work. And then we’ll sit down and have a party, to relax and welcome our new members.

I know this is short notice, but we must mobilize! Meet at the Coldridge Pass in Coldridge Valley at 9 p.m. on Tuesday. I will give further instructions at that time.

((Full details in non-RP format are after the break.))

WoW.com/2010/07/19/refugee-party-roleplay-server-maintenance-event/” rel=”bookmark”>Continue reading Refugee Party: Roleplay server maintenance event

Filed under: WoW.com/category/events/” rel=”tag”>Events, WoW.com/category/rp/” rel=”tag”>RP

WoW.com/2010/07/19/refugee-party-roleplay-server-maintenance-event/”>Refugee Party: Roleplay server maintenance event originally appeared on WoW.com”>WoW.com on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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