Happy Winter Veil

I know it’s slightly early but after finishing work tomorrow we’re heading straight off into a three day food and family fest without proper computer access (we do have it but I’d be roasted alive if my Mother* caught me blogging about a computer game whilst I’m meant to be concentrating on nieces, nephews and other assorted family members) so this is my last chance to hope you all have an awesome time and that Grandfather Winter brings everything on your wish lists.

As for me, it seems that Grandfather Winter came early this year because Mr Bigglesworth is already ticked off my present list. Although in this particular shot he does seem to be trying to distance himself from a tastefully dressed levitating carol singing Gnome, can’t imagine why.

*Yes I’m afraid of my Mother and with good reason I assure you. She makes Sprout’s PvP bloodlust look like a lazy afternoon picnic.

All I want for Winter Veil is……

A couple of weeks ago the Blog Azeroth shared topic was

Winter Veil is around the corner and it’s time to sit upon Greatfather Winter’s lap and answer the important question, “What do you want for Winter Veil?” Is it that expensive grand expedition yak? a nice transmog custom outfit? or a Red Ryder carbine-action, two hundred shot Range Model air rifle with a compass in the stock?

What is on your Winter Veil wishlist?

suggested by Noahdeer.

Having been both a good little Gnome and a good hard working girl, I’d like my stocking to divulge the following this Winter Veil.

1. Mr Bigglesworth. As a little girl, I had my own pet cemetery moments (at least in the sense of wishing that the dead didn’t have to stay dead) and even now I still in my deepest dreams find myself wishing for undead pets. Since I suspect my childhood dog, his bones bleached white isn’t going to come tapping down the corridor, I’ll take Mr Bigglesworth as a substitute.
2. An end to Dailies. Yes I get the whole “don’t do them” argument but they are there sitting in quest logs and with reputation bars not maxed laughing at me.
3. More time to actually play. What with my commute and with my work load, time outside work not spent asleep is remarkably precious right now. At this time of year especially, there are so many other demands on those fleeting moments that I’m struggling to find any time at all in Azeroth.
4. This one basically leads on from 3. Ideally if every thing goes according to plan, in the new year, we’ll smash the nasty commute into little pieces which then will hopefully allow me much more time to do other things like finish the 100 plus drafts sitting waiting to be finalized, to possibly find a guild to do some raiding with and to complete all the other little projects sitting half done, like my Tree of Life cushion.
5. Come up with a Winter transmogrification for Sprout who is still wearing a semi matching set of PvP and PvE gear all collected from MoP and held together by a tabard of all things.

Of course I wouldn’t say no to “Peace on Azeroth and Goodwill to all Gnomes” either. Garrosh’s bloody and battered head in my stocking would be greatly appreciated too.

The Wanderer’s Festival – IntPiPoMo

We are the music-makers,
And we are the dreamers of dreams,
Wandering by lone sea-breakers,
And sitting by desolate streams.
World-losers and world-forsakers,
Upon whom the pale moon gleams;
Yet we are the movers and shakers,
Of the world forever, it seems.

Arthur William Edgar O’Shaughnessy

With so many of the WoW festivals revolving around killing and death, the Wanderer’s festival is a real breathe of fresh air. There is no big bad to slaughter, no towns to save, just a leisurely Sunday beach party focusing on celebrating exploration and dreams coming true.

The party starts with the celebrants emerging from the jungle, some carrying lanterns which they take to the water’s edge.

Once released these glowing beacons float out to sea, drifting out to explore.

I find myself returning week after week just so I can sit on the beach watching the world go by.

I love the idea of a regular festival and/or event that happens all year around and really hope it’s something that Blizzard develop further at some point. So far we have the Wanderer’s Festival with it’s hatchling and of course the Darkmoon Faire but perhaps the market at Halfhill could expand into a proper market on a Saturday with twice as many stalls, some selling unique items and recipes. Maybe those enterprising Goblins in Booty Bay could set up a Fish market to help fund the rebuilding project or the Vrykul could host a little gathering once a fortnight to help draw people back to Northrend, obviously we’d have to dress up to avoid being on the receiving end of a pointy spear but the opportunities could be endless.

Happy Hallows End

Beware of Gnomes and Goblins and other such beasties!

Trick or Treat!

As the nights draw in and all Hallows Eve slides through the shadows, getting closer and closer, Ambermist of Battlechicken challenged us to describe how our characters would dress up for a spot of candy acquiring.

If your character were going Trick or Treating in Azeroth, Tyria, or wherever they call home, what would their costume be? Tell me all about the what and the why and if you can find a picture of it or something similar, please post that with it–I’d love to see!

We tend to dress up as what scares us the most and for Sprout, the bogeyman under the bed and the monster lurking beneath the bridge has always been a Troll. Thus this Hallows End, she will be found cavorting around demanding sweeties whilst dressed as an evil little Troll creature, complete with pet snake to hiss on demand if people aren’t generous enough in their candy sharing.

Give me sugary snacks or I’ll let my snake hug you!

A few of my favourite things: The MoP Edition

The sheer quantity of “fun” items released with Mists has me both amazed and struggling for bag space.  Do I really need a golden banana, probably not but who knows what the future holds. Throwing away a cask of beer could be risky, for all I know I might end up stuck half away up a mountain with nothing to drink at some point soon. Therefore I thought I’d talk you through my favourite silly stuff so far.

So in no particular order, here are my favourites to date:

1. Tuft of Yak Hair

This lets you summon a rather large yak and ride him around the Dread Wastes for a minute or so. You can’t control his speed, only direction.

2. Oddly Shaped Horn

This is basically a Mushan version of the Yak Hair, you get three charges which summons a very large Mushan and get to ride around on it’s back for a little while. Totally pointless but rather fun.

3. Ruther’s Harness

This is the reward  from a  Goldilocks type quest and he’s become my good look charm in battlegrounds, although recently given the sheer number of premades featuring warriors and holy paladins, he’s not been that lucky.

4. Shushen’s Spittoon

It might be rather naughty of me but the second I saw this, my mind immediately jumped to possible pvp implications. If there comes a time when the /spit emote just isn’t enough, deploy this one their unreleased corpse and spit away to your hearts content (of course I’d never do something so …. bad).

5. Silversage Incense

Even angry little gnomes need to find serenity somewhere along the line.

6. Autumn Blossom Tree

You grow these on your farm once you’re honoured or above with the Tillers. Each tree only lasts 3 minutes but I think they’re rather pretty.

Right now our policy is basically if it moves (and even if it doesn’t) kill it and see if it gives shinies. What items are you currently hoarding away and why?

Sunday Screenshot – Fire Festival

It’s been a while since I did a screenshot post and since I’ve been taking quite a few pictures whilst flying around stealing flames and honouring fires, I thought I’d post a few.

We might have failed to take Gnomeregan, but taking Silvermoon was a push over!

The Fires of Stratholme

The Gates of Mulgore looking towards the ruins of Camp T

Tarren Mill in the rain

The Bonfire at Bogpaddle

The Elders of Cataclysm

Just a brief guide to the whereabouts of the Cataclysmic Elders.

Kalimdor

• Elder Windsong: Mount Hyjal (at the Sanctuary of Malorne).
• Elder Evershade: Mount Hyjal (Stood next to the Stormwind portal at Nordrassil).
• Elder Menkhaf: Uldum (Khartut’s Tomb. If you are facing north, he’s on the east side of the statue).
• Elder Sekhemi: Uldum (Ruins of Ammon).

Eastern Kingdoms

• Darkfeather the Elder: Twilight Highlands (Thundermar Ruins. He’s almost directly opposite Bloodgulch)

• Firebeard the Elder: Twilight Highlands (The Dunwald Town Square in the Dunwald Ruins subzone)

Deepholm

• Elder Stonebrand: Temple of Earth (He’s standing by the entrance/exit into Deepholm itself.
• Elder Deepforge: Deepholm (Stonehearth, he’s stood next to the Oremantle quest givers hub).

Vashj’ir

• Elder Moonlance: The Shimmering Expanse sub-zone (Biel’aran Ridge. He’s by the furthest south set of ruins on the map).

For a more comprehensive guide to the Lunar Festival see Aralosseien’s guide.

Festival Lantern

This is the Horde version of the new Lunar Festival pet, shown here with Erinys (who just happened to have over 50 coins of ancestry lying about).

I particularly like the fact that it hovers above your head rather than at waist height or lower. Also when you are mounted, it bobs about after you in a rather cute fashion.

Happy Lunar Festival 2012 everyone!

Winter Veil – You’re a Mean One!

This is a new daily added this Winter Veil which has combined two of the old staples, rescuing Metzen the Reindeer and killing off the Greench so you can return the presents he stole.

Instead of having to go to both Hillsbrad (for the Greench) and either Tanaris or the Searing Gorge (to rescue the Reindeer), now everything is handily in one location, Hillsbrad.

It doesn’t matter who attacks him first because once he’s dead, the Reindeer handlers run off and the sacks of presents around the cave become clickable and you can just loot one. On my second character of the day, the Greench was already dead when I arrived but I could still loot a stolen present and Metzen the Reindeer was just hanging around waiting to be reassured he was safe.

I imagine on a PvP server this could be a fun daily.

As a reward, you have a chance to get the new holiday mini-pet Lumpy, the Lump of Coal.

In my second bag, I got a tiny green ragdoll. So I would go as far as to speculate that there is a chance to get a variety of mini-pets/toy related items from this daily.

Happy Winter Veil.

Day of the Dead: A Lament

I love the Day of the Dead. I had the privilege of being in Mexico at this time of year once. Of seeing the marigolds being brought into the city on truck after truck, as well as being heaped at the road side for sale to passing traffic and the shop window displays piled high with sugar skulls. I remember eating tiny little candies shaped like skeletons and buying postcards of La Calavera Catrina. I even carried home a five foot painted pink and white skeleton (telling customs there is a skeleton in your bag – not a good idea btw) which is why I’m still slightly disappointed with the in-game version of this festival.

I’m glad that Blizzard made use of the beautiful new cemetery in Stormwind, it looks suitably poignant in the moonlight, the graves loaded up with tributes to the dead.

 

But why I can’t I keep my little puppet friend all year around? There is no limitation on my witch’s hat wearing broomstick riding cat nor my jack o’lantern on legs. The Spring bunny isn’t locked up for the rest of the year. Wolpertingers do indeed linger. So why restrict us with the marionette?

I know we’ve just had two weeks of giant pumpkins, a surfeit of candy and plenty of treats but I’d love to see a few more quests added to this holiday. Simple ones where you have to go out and talk to the dead, perhaps run a few basic errands for them. It could be as basic as a ghost asking you to take bread or marigolds to a dead friend or relative buried in some obscure cemeteries dotted around Azeroth. A recipe to make sugar skulls wouldn’t go amiss either.