Archive for the ‘What is World of Warcraft?’ Category

The Newb of All Newbs

Friday, February 5th, 2010

Before today, my computer gaming resume listed "solitaire." That's all. Just solitaire, which I totally own, but which doesn't exactly qualify me for the big time. My experience with "role playing" amounted to trying to keep it real in my own life, where I use my superpowers to sustain my role as Wonder Mom. That's all. I rule the carpool and I dominate the grocery store and Target.

In World of Warcraft, I am the newb of all newbs. I have no idea what I am doing, but my curiosity and initiative drive me. I consider this adventure something like a quest; is there a grail at the end of this journey into a terrifying wilderness?

Because I am "green" as spring's first twig, green as Kermit himself, I begin at the very beginning. I learn the basic basics?
World of Warcraft, often referred to as WoW, is a "massively multiplayer online role-playing game" (MMORPG). Can I say that ten times fast? MMORPG, MMORPG? It's the "RP" that matters, but the "MM"?massively multi-player?definitely intimidates me. I may be innocent but I am not na?: We are talkin' massive: More than 11.5 million people subscribe to this game every month. Good to know it requires a subscription: I get to pay money to watch my own annihilation? How fun! Meanwhile, these 11.5 million players helped WoW set the World's Record for the most popular MMORPG?they're in The Guinness Book of World Records and everything. Right this minute, nearly two-thirds of the people playing "MMOG's" are playing World of Warcraft. I don't think it's an accident they call it "WoW," hunh?

When I sign-up for my ten-day free trial, I will control my avatar. I get that, but can I be cuter in the game than in real life? I mean, even if monsters are gobbling me in single bites, I still want to look good while they devour me. If I understand this deal correctly, I at least get a little bit of time to explore the landscape and take a few practice shots on wimpy ogres before I really undertake a serious challenge. I hope I get a little time to develop my skills in the minor leagues before I have to take the field in the majors. How embarrassing to show-up, make a cameo, and immediately die!

The WoW website tells me, "World of Warcraft is a living, breathing online adventure world." Okay, I reassure myself, that's a little hyperbole, but with ten million people imagining and innovating, I'd hazard the guess that this virtual world has quickened and taken-on life of its own. It's only the "breathing" part that leaves me a little uneasy; but I'm guessing I'll get used to it.

The website says, when I log-on, I will become one among "thousands of mighty heroes in an online world of myth, magic, and limitless
adventure." I've never been "mighty" before. That alone will inspire the next mouse-click. But I also get a little foreshadowing, a subtle taste of what awaits: As I wander through this wonderland, I ultimately will face the dragon of Blackrock Spire; he cannot be any worse than my Ph.D. committee, can he? Is it a he? And I will perform community service as I "cleanse the undead from the looming ziggurats of Stratholme"?good thing I know what ziggurats are and have a little prior experience with climbing them. And, hey, I even can look forward to a little inventive anachronism: I'll fly a zeppelin over a "smoldering" battlefield. My characteristic pessimism kicks-in just a little: with my luck, my zeppelin will be The Hindenburg.

The first screen asserts, "An infinity of new experiences await." Then, it demands, "So what are you waiting for?" Because I have no good reason for hesitating, balking, or waiting, I take the plunge. I delicately press and click.

The guys at Blizzard Entertainment, the geniuses who created this seductive, highly-addictive masterpiece, really like the word "mighty." Before she downloads and begins play, the newb needs to know that without high-speed internet access and lots of ROM, she's toast. In other words, your computer and its peripherals must be as "mighty" as the terrain she's about to enter and the horrible wild things she's about to battle.

The business part of this goes simply and straight-forwardly enough. Although I feel a little surprised that a place which empowers my imaginary self demands all the details about my authentic self, I feel reassured that it's all encrypted, and I just type and click my way through the three-step process that whisks me into this virtual landscape.

In my first five minutes, the tips and helpers answer all my questions, allying all my doubts. I can play for ten days for absolutely free; they got all my digits, but they required no credit card for my initiation. My avatar is at least as cute as I?even with tusks; and I have chosen to train as a priest. I get to see other players as they go on their quests, but we're not required to talk; and when we do chat, they're nice to me. One vaguely attractive young knight shows me how to dance. My avatar has some nice moves.

In my first ten minutes, I have slain ten wild boars, acquired some "mighty" skills and experiences, satisfied my first initiation requirement, and taken-on my second assignment. A few ogre guys tell me they're not amused when I touch them or ask them questions; but, hey, that's not so different from my real life. I can manage it. I have enjoyed a tasty snack and some truly refreshing cool water after my boar-battles, and I have some nifty new items in my backpack.

In fifteen minutes, I have evolved from terrified wanna-be to complete rookie to emerging warriorette. That's not a bad day's work. I'm hooked. I'll be back. I have a mission to complete.

We have tried and tested the best World Of Warcraft guides available and have put them all in our reviews page! Click here to check them out...

WoW: Tooling Up!

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009

If you're just starting out on your own quest in World of Warcraft, possibly the most important aspect of your adventuring will be the items you take with you. From weapons, armour, wards and healing potions, all of these items will assist you in your fight to dominance. It's important to get a good idea of the range of items and equipment throughout Azaroth, as those not used for your own needs can be sold at auction houses or traded. Here we present a list of the most common item groups to help you get accustomed to what you'll find out there in WoW

Weapons - Most of the World of Warcraft Items are weapons: One-Handed Axes, Two-Handed Axe, Bows, Guns, One-Handed Maces, Two-Handed Maces, Polearms, One-Handed Swords, Two-Handed Swords, Staves, Fist Weapons, Miscellaneous, Daggers, Thrown, Crossbows, Wands, Fishing Poles

Armour - The vast range of protective clothing ranges from humble and simple cloth garments to huge and impressive suits of armour. The most common armour includes Cloth, Leather, Mail, Plate, Cloaks, Necklaces, Rings, Trinkets, Shields, Librams, Idols, Totems, Miscellaneous.

Containers - Containers include Bags and enchanting Bags, like Glacial Bag, Frostweave Bag, Mysterious Bag, Mycah's Botanical Bag, Spellfire Bag and many more.

Darkmoon Cards - Some of the Darkmoon Cards are Ace of Nobles, Two of Nobles, Three of Nobles, Four of Nobles, Five of Nobels, Six of Nobles, and many more. Each of the darkmoon cards has a unique power or ability, so they're definitely worth looking out for.

Trade Goods- Some of the best ways to make money is through "Trade Goods". Things like Herbalism, Mining, Black Smithing, Enchanting, Engineering, Jewel crafting, Leather working, Tailoring and many more!

Herbs are used for a whole plethora of functions, including poisons, ingredients, magics and healing potions. Some of the Herbs include Frost Lotus, Adder's Tongue, Goldclover, Lichbloom, Tiger Lily, and Talendra's Rose.

Item Enhancements - These enhancements are added to existing armour or weapons to augment them, adding extra strength or new abilities to your inventory. Some of the enchantments are Icescale Leg Armour, Eternal Belt Buckle, Azure Spellthread, Nerubian Leg Armor, Golden Spellthread, Frosthide Leg Armor, and lots more

Recipes - Though not concerned with battles directly, cooking still plays a major part in WoW. Cooking items and abilities include Books, Cooking, Enchanting, Jewel Crafting, Fishing, Alchemy, Tailoring, First Aid, and more.

Gems - most gems are used to enhance spellcasting and healing, or can also be used in conjuction with weaponry to add a deadly edge to items.

The weapons and items throughout WoW constitute a vast array of possibilities to assist in quests and battles, and with an ever expanding list due to constant patches and addons, the range of items is well and truly endless!

We have tried and tested the best World Of Warcraft guides available and have put them all in our reviews page! Click here to check them out...

WoW: Questing for Addons

Saturday, April 18th, 2009

Having got into the vastness of World of Warcraft, you'll probably start to hear about little features known as Addons. Addons are extra applications available to download which can be used to bolster your gaming experience and offer much needed help in your quests. There's an almost endless amount of Addons out there, ranging from map planners, quest markers, information on enemies, their weaponry and the loot they're liable to drop, hints at how to level up quickly and merchant augmentations for the auction house to name but a very few.

Now, as stated there are a LOT of addons out there. Most are free to download from legitimate sites, but you must be careful to watch out where you acquire these from as there are many pirate and unauthorised providers out there. WoW parent company usually post a mark of approval on sites which they allow to distribute these addons,  but if you're unsure its usually best to ask other players or consult the main forums on the WoW website for guidance. Vigilance is important, as many bogus offerings turn out to be computer viruses and will charge you money for nothing.

The great thing about addons is that most are written by WoW players themselves, seeking out more information than the WoW sites can offer and striving to make they game even better than it already is. As you would expect, nobody would have a better idea about how to make WoW a better experience than the players themselves, and so many of these addons are genuine masterstrokes well worth checking out. Most websites will have forums and information guides to tell you exactly what an addon will give you in gaming terms, so it's easy to find exactly what you're looking for.

Have a look around for addons that best suit you, they really do make WoW a more enjoyable experience!

Zygors In-Game Alliance And Horde World Of Warcraft 1 - 80 Leveling Guides - "Zygor Guides Has The Fastest Leveling Path In The Entire World! You Can Get To Level 80 In Under 7 Days " We have tried and tested the best World Of Warcraft guides available and have put them all in our reviews page! Click here to check them out...

WoW: Solo or Group Questing?

Tuesday, April 7th, 2009

When starting out on wow, one must decide on whether to tread the ground solo or to join with larger groups to assist in their adventures. Upon logging on, you may find a number of players calling for assistance or offering a place within their group. It's important to remember that a lot of these players could be seasoned veterans and players who take their games very seriously, and so probably wouldn't appreciate a player carrying a player who is still getting to grips with the system. Also, if a player or group of players are intending to farm or grind for items (felling enemies in order to acquire their items and sell them on for gold) then this is usually a time consuming process, so it's best to make sure you have the time to apply.

Differing quests, areas and realms may influence your decision also, and so too can your mood. If you're not feeling up to the conversation and companionship, then best to go in solo with a few quick quests, earning a bit of gold and skirting clear of the big groups. However, if you're in the mood to really get involved, perhaps make a name for yourself and gain friendship and respect, then it's a good idea to join a partner or small group for a lengthier, more dangerous quest. This is ideal if you wish to reap the rewards of going after elite enemies, or if you have a particular grudge against a guild or race. You might even make a few powerful allies in the process.

Your state of play really does depends on the situations that present themselves to you. Playing solo could be a little more time consuming and dangerous, but then you and you alone will reap any rewards given up. Conversely, joining a group is what WoW is really about, getting you involved in the thick of fighting and more meaninglful confrontations, whilst gaining you the respect and camaraderie of the WoW community.

We have tried and tested the best World Of Warcraft guides available and have put them all in our reviews page! Click here to check them out...

WoW: Factions

Wednesday, April 1st, 2009

Warfare in the World of Warcraft is primarily fought between two distinct opposing factions; the Alliance and the Horde. In the most competitive realms, being PVP (Player vs Player) and RPVP (Role Player vs Player), Factions are very hostile toward each other and confrontations are never taken lightly. The evil legions of Horde are made up of Blood Elves, Orcs, Tauren, Trolls and Undead. Opposing these are the Draenei, Dwarf, Human, Gnome and Night Elf races that make up the Alliance.  They are all humanoids, unlike some of the Horde races.

Defending peace and honour throughout Azaroth, the Draenei are the most physically imposing of the Alliance. Aliens from another planet, they resemble something of a mix between reptile and goat. Dwarfs are exactly as you expect from an enduring fantasy archetype; short, stubborn and very fond of ale. This is tempered by their impressive skill at arms though. Humans are well adapted to Azeroth and its strange continents.  They work well with the other 4 races to defend their world and are known as steadfast fighters. Gnomes are next up, and being even smaller than the dwarfs they make for suprisingly useful allies as they are extremely fast and tricky to catch. They also bring with them an impressive technological knowledge. Finally, the Night Elves are, as you may expect from their name, highly attuned to the darkness and excel in stealth warfare from a distance. They are characterised by their aloof and curt manner.

Opposing the forces of good come the Horde, a motley collection of misanthropes and monstrous warriors. Blood Elves, like their Night Elf counterparts, excel at magic and often strike from a distance to avoid unwanted melee confrontation. Orcs are large, brutish and dangerous monstrosities. These greenskins are best utilized as hunters and warriors, where their impressive strength is put to good use. Tauren are a race of humanoid bulls, titantic in size and strength. These terrifying beasts are employed as tanks abnd bring with them no small amount of intimidation. The undead make extensive use of necromantic spells and ploys, with their warlocks able to revive fallen soldiers. Their major weapon is fear; bringing home the grim relaity of mortality to their enemies. Finally come the Trolls, a comical and dim-witted race that arent good for a great deal except survival, as their regenerative hides are able to sustain a heightened amount of punishment.

These age old enemies make use of the same set of classes and attributes throughout Azaroth, albeit each faction manifesting these skills and puirsuits in different ways. Will you fight for the good of the land, or will corruption seep into your soul?

Zygors In-Game Alliance And Horde World Of Warcraft 1 - 80 Leveling Guides - "Zygor Guides Has The Fastest Leveling Path In The Entire World! You Can Get To Level 80 In Under 7 Days " We have tried and tested the best World Of Warcraft guides available and have put them all in our reviews page! Click here to check them out...

World of Warcraft – what is it?

Monday, March 30th, 2009

A lot of you might or might not have heard about the huge web-based game called "World of Warcraft". World of Warcraft, often referred to as WoW, is an enormous multi-player online role-playing game (MMORPG), that allows you to take the role of a character in a fantasy world that you have created. Some are confused and keep asking them self, What is World of Warcraft? Well, it is the 4th released game from Blizzard Entertainment that is set in the fantastic "Warcraft Universe". World of Warcraft has a population of over 10 million subscribers, which made Blizzard Entertainment 2 billion dollars last year! So I bet you are wondering how much exactly is 10 million people? Well … let's just say half the population of Australia!

So, What is World of Warcraft?

Well, I hope after the first section you understand at least the basis of World of Warcraft, but obliviously I will explain in more detail exactly "What World of Warcraft" is. As mentioned above, WoW is an all web-based role playing game and is played on the computer. Now, from experience I love WoW, I made tons of friends ( which I still talk to ) I had truly a mind blowing experience with all of the fun, and characters and competition. Overall with my just a couple months of play with WoW I had tons of success! If your still wondering 'What is World of Warcraft" then you need to go get your head checked!

WoW is set in the amazing world of Azeroth. The plot is remarkable, and has lots of excitement and suspense! When you first begin playing you can make your own characters and wonder the world communicating with other "live" player members in the fantasy "Warcraft Universe". Your character can be anything from dragons, to monsters to elf's and dwarfs and even trolls! Have you ever watched a cool fantasy movie, and thought to yourself, WOW I would love to experience that! Well here is your chance! You can find anything from fights, friends and money.

With World of Warcraft you can spend hours, days and months playing but you will never complete it all!, as it is a game that is regularly being updated with new content, this means your experience will never come to an end! Full of new dungeons, and quests (missions), that will blow your mind. To be honest with you, you will never fully "beat the game". World of Warcraft is an awesome game that you will love and will never want to quit. This is the best article on the web to explain what the game is about. Trust me!

We have tried and tested the best World Of Warcraft guides available and have put them all in our reviews page! Click here to check them out...