Stardancer's Sightseeing Guides

2009-04-22T11:16:00.001-07:00

We Moved!

www.stardancerelf.com

If you have not been redirected to "Off the Beaten Path" here, please click Stardancer's Off the Beaten Path.

You will need to adjust your bookmarks and subscriptions to the new location!

Thank you!

Sincerely,
Star

2009-04-22T11:16:00.000-07:00

We Have Moved!

Redirecting "Off the Beaten Path" to here.

Sincerely,
Star

61. Ghosts, Bambina, Starting out Rping

2009-03-01T11:43:00.000-08:00

Text for "Off the Beaten Path" as heard on Epic Dolls Podcast#61

I hope you are enjoying your journeys in the World of Warcraft. I love that Blizzard opted to change the policy and allow people to create a Death Knight on any server if they have at least one level 55+ character somewhere. Seeing how it can take forever to level a new character on a new server, this is really a time saver. I have been playing my Death Knight on the Perenolde server.

While leveling through Burning Crusade again, I was thinking how nice it would be if Blizzard allowed players who have registered both expansions the option of creating ANY character race at level 55. Wouldn’t that be great? You could play on any server with friends and not have to grind so hard to get to 70 or 80! Not to mention the time saver it is to cultivate a trade skill and funds.

PLACES TO SEE
As you know, its all about the scenery and things that are in the game to look at and visit for me. There are new players in Warcraft all the time who are just starting out in Azeroth. So here at Off the Beaten Path on Epic Dolls, I like including places from all over the Warcraft globe from the original game in Azeroth and Burning Crusade to Northrend, Wrath of the Lich King.

OUTLANDS – Burning Crusade
In Outlands, while leveling my Death Knight, I encountered a rather strange and spooky thing in Hellfire Pennisula at Expedition Armory. Due east of the ghost of Lieutenant Commander Thalvos (far south) is a group or throng of alliance ghosts, not the unyielding ghosts for the quests, these are other ghosts. You have to look closely though, they are nearly invisible and are grouped together off to the side. They run amok if you get too close and battle something. However, if you are still long enough they begin conversing with one another about not being able to return home and a few other things. You can understand them even as horde… I will leave the rest of what they say up to you and your explorations. Quest for Horde begins with Althen the Historian

AZEROTH – Main Game
While you are out exploring the original world of Azeroth, some of your quests may lead you to the neutral piratey town of Booty Bay. Don’t forget to visit all the shops including the more secluded and sneaky merchants out back behind some of the buildings. But if you are looking for an interesting picturesque spot to sit, cook, or look out at the water, then you need to sit atop the southern canon fortifications. Dive into the water, swim West along the southern shore, negotiate up the slight slope and hop down into the fortification wall. It has a great view of the water and boats coming in as well as the entire town of Booty Bay.

If you have found another cool spot you would like to share, visit our forums at Epic Dolls. Com and give us a shout out.

NORTHREND – WOLK
Got to love how Blizzard incorporates pop-cultural icons into their games.

If you are a fan of the Lost series, then you might enjoy a foray into Sholazar Basin Nothrend. There you can encounter the last Lost hatch complete with appropriate number series.

Well, and who can forget Siouxsie the Banshee (reference to a band) the Death Knight located in Ebon Hold, not to mention the deer running around in Grizzly Hills named “Bambina” who can be seen with the entire Disneyesque entourage. And if you need to get your history fix for the day, you can always visit the Tabard vendor in Dalaraan named Elizabeth Ross. Betsy is a derivative of Elizabeth, you get the picture.

QUESTS
Blizzard sometimes takes the pop-culture references to a new level. This humorous little horde quest is entitled “The Horse Hollerer.” Basically, you need to Scare 15 Highland Mustangs, the herd of free roaming horses in Grizzly Hills and return to Soulok Stormfury at Camp Oneqwah. What do you scare them with? Well, of course, A Flashbang Grenade.

Role Playing Tips
This episode’s RPing tips come from toomanyannas.com. You may have peaked at 80 and leveling yet another character all the way seems overwhelming. You may be considering putting on a more creative hat and trying RP but aren’t sure how to begin. In the spirit of the Friday5.org intelligent babble blogging fame, Anna starts by asking the reader to pick one of your characters you are considering RPing with and answer some starter questions. Let your imagination loose and see what you come up with. Don’t get too hung up on the details, you don’t need to write an essay for each question, just a simple answer identifying your character will work.

Here are the questions to get the ball rolling for your character.

1. What is your character’s name?
2. Why did he/she pick his/her class?
3. What’s the worst trouble he/she ever got into as a child?
4. What is his/her favorite thing to eat?
5. What does he/she have in his/her pockets?

Anna followed up the initial five questions with the next five…

o When is your character’s birthday? Does he/she know?
o What is your character’s favorite place in the world? Why?
o What kind of sense of humor does your character have (if any)?
o Is your character introverted or extroverted?
o What just irritates the hell out of your character?

Knowing such basic and thoughtful information about the character helps you know the character more and can be a starting point for conversations.

60. Mysterious Portals and Favorite quests

2009-01-18T22:31:00.000-08:00

This text is from Stardancer's Off the Beaten Path as heard on Epic Dolls Podcast Number 60.

PLACES TO SEE
Mysteries of WoW….

STORMWIND PORTALS
What is with those two swirling instance doorways still in Stormwind over by Old Town?

According to Lore Nerds, these are relics of unfinished projects. The one in the canal was originally going to be the “Stormwind Vault” a sort of Prison meets Arcatraz-type of instance. Blizzard never really answered the inquiry about the barred portal at the end of the canal, but speculation has it that it was to be the entrance to player made housing. Some players who dug around in the player files found the remnants of the player housing.

QUESTS

Some wonderful players from the Epic Dolls guild recently shared their favorite quests of 2008 -Wrath of the Lich King…

Roswynn was happy to get the Loremaster of Northrend achievement. In order to get this award, almost every single quest in Northrend. I would imagine that quite the story of the continent is told in great detail for that. Congratulations!

A lot of players felt that the Angrathar the Wrath Gate, was among the most interesting quests both for lore, story, and for the sheer quest of it. The Wrath Gate series leads to the entrance of Icecrown Citadel and the siege in the area leads to the first encounter with the infamous Lich King.

Another favorite quest is entitled, “The Admiral Revealed” located in the Icecrown quest series in Death’s Rise. In this series, you travel to New Hearthglen at the bequest of Lord-Commander Arete. You are to use the Lord-Commander's Nullifier to defeat Grand Admiral Westwind in Hidden Hallow, and you get to really see what he is about.You can obtain this quest series After Vandalizing Jotunheim, and starting with the quest To the Rise with all Due Haste! .

Paquita from Epic Dolls mentioned that riding around for “vehicle quests’ was fun and loved the quest where you get to ride around on controlled giants. One such quest is from Gymer, the , in the Storm peaks. He has bequested that you ride on him to destroy 100 Scourge and kill Algar the Chosen and a few other badies.

He says:

My people have been decimated by the Lich King. The Scourge now use the corpses of storm giants to create mindless flesh giants, or worse, stitched together aberrations like Thrym.”

Gramaul of Epic Dolls stated that there was nothing more fun than spraying flaming death on opposing players in the quest entitled Vehicular Gnomeslaughter. Basically you are to Kill 100 players in Wintergrasp using a vehicle or a cannon.Vehicle, Cannon, Shredder, Fighter, Bomber.

Role Playing Tips

Tired of killing 25 of that and looting 40 skins of that for questing? Well, here are my top 5 quests with really great lore or stories…

5. Dragonblight and the series involving Wyrmrest Temple

4. Icecrown Quest Series

3. The Death Knight starting area chain all the way through to the battle of Lights Hope Chapel.

2. Grizzlemaw and Vordrissil in Grizzly Hills, Northrend/

1. The Ladies Necklace. If you are horde you know this quest well. It starts with an alternate quest taking you to fight the ghosts at Windrunner Spire in Ghostlands. One of the ghosts drops a glimmering necklace. This quest series requires you to turn the necklace into the Banshee Queen in UnderCity, where she graces you with her song… Lament of the Highborne.

58. Reflections on Northrend

2008-12-08T10:05:00.000-08:00

This text is from Stardancer's Off the Beaten Path as heard on Epic Dolls Podcast.

Now that the initial frenzy has died down, I am taking a moment to reflect on the new Lich King expansion. At first, I started out on the West coast in Borean Tundra, which quickly became overrun with tons of other scurrying players. Fortunately, a friend informed me of the *other* boat… Alliance could take the boat that used to go to Ashenvale from Menethil Harbor, but that boat now travels to Howling Fjord, on the South Eastern Coast of Northrend. The coastline in this area forms Daggercap bay and according to history was the initial point that explorers came to to discover Northrend. (Horde players can take the zeppelin from Undercity into Vengeance Landing located farther north.)

The Alliance boat ride into the Fjord is much like traveling on a pirate ship and sailing into a secret harbor. It’s a sensational ride.The scenery in this zone is vastly different from other parts of Northrend, not so stark and frosty. It is green with tall pine trees, winding walkways, circling hawks, and wandering Storm Giants. I finally settled on this area as my starting zone.

PLACES TO SEE
I found the architecture of the reawakened vrykul (pronounced vrai-koul) people of particular interest. This would be Utgarde catabombs and the Keep. If you enjoyed the majesty of Rohan, King Theodan’s kingdom from the Lord of the Rings, be sure to visit this area and instance. It is really impressive. Traveling North from the Howling Fjord takes you into the area of Grizzly hills. This is more mountainous terrain, but still the ever greens stand tall and the Imperial eagles (bald eagles) that serenely inhabit the area.

The most interesting spot is Vordrissil. At first you don’t realize what you are seeing in this random mounds of giant bark and the like as you travel around the area on your tasks. Through a series of quests out of Amberpine lodge, you discover that the elves planted a world tree in Northrend, Vordrassil. But for reasons long forgotten, something went wrong with its growing and it had to be torn down and abandoned. Sometime after this, the furbolgs moved in, and fell victim to the same corruption that befell Vordrassil. Eventually, the quests begin to thread together a story of a fallen world tree. You pan out your camera trying to piece together the various areas where parts of the tree had fallen to get an idea of the enormity of its size. Definitely a quest series worth taking on.

Another interesting spot is located in Sholazar (pronounced SHOL-uh-zarh) Basin and is the avatar of Freya located near the Rainspeaker Rapids. She is the nature Titan’s avatar, a beautiful flowery construct which represents a particular Titan, Freya …and begins a series of quest which start at 77.

QUESTS

Here’s a nutty little quest located Whisper Gulch in Howling Fjord. Inside the gulch area are deranged explorers who are hostile to you taking sample of the tainted ore. While you are there, a series of whispers resound through the area, such as:

"Tell yourself again that these are not truly your friends."
"They have turned against you. Now... take your revenge."
"Give in to your fear."

With the latter being an audible voice being done by an actor.

Speaking of humorous little quests, the horde quest given by Plaguebringer Tillinghast called Green Eggs and Whelps, which is a take on Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham. Tillinghast is working hard to understand the intestinal issues of the protodragons which ends poorly for the NPC.

Role Playing Tips
Story Nights

I have mentioned before that some of the most memorable role-playing experiences that I had were the open poetry/story nights which were held every Tuesday evening on our rp server. Lead by an extraordinarily devoted group of players (because they were there every Tuesday rain or shine), the story nights gave writers, poets, and lyricists the opportunity to use the game as a venue to compose and write. I know how hard it is to think about engaging in role-play when the world of northrend is so rich with questing and adventuring. However, maybe you are interested in slowing it down, kicking back with a character to relay adventures and mayhem in the nearest tavern.

Rpmadesimple.org writes,

“Think of story night as a gathering of folks relaxing by the fire, telling stories. You may have done this in everyday life at summer camp, vacation trips or just hanging out with friends on a weekend afternoon or at a pub on a weekend. We are talking about a gathering of fellow roleplayers around a virtual campfire in their role playing game of choice. Players are acting in character, swapping stories or just listening. This can be almost anything that fits the lore and genre for the game. Revamped fables, songs, short tales and even original stories by players who participate. There’s not really a “scripted” role-play here, it’s organic. So, you never know what folks will bring - but that’s part of the fun”.

Reasons for having a story night:

It’s fun! Listen, contribute or just hang out in character. It’s a different way to enjoy the game, even for non-rpers.
It’s a chance to RP! A great chance to just chill while still being in character. New role-players get their first “peek” at role-playing through these events.
Character development. Develop your character before or after the evening or through IC stories.
Networking. It’s a good way of networking with fellow role-players, meet new people, or to find out about guilds and folks.
It promotes Role-playing. Events such as these help others explore and develop role-playing and supports and promotes the role-playing community.
An opportunity to write and have an audience – if you write, you are writer. Storynights are great way to share your skills
An opportunity to recite poetry - sometimes a character has a poet’s heart.
Try your hand at subtle RP – experimenting with what your character doing or emotes while they listening. Such as, “Star listens intently to the story, frowning slightly to details involving piracy.”

Have fun everyone!

Northrend Day 2

2008-11-14T17:14:00.001-08:00

This text is from Stardancer's Off the Beaten Path as heard on Epic Dolls Podcast.

Hello everyone, this is Stardancer of Off the Beaten Path- but if you have been in the expansion lately, with all the crowds in the new areas, you know its more like “the well-worn path”. Haha But seriously, this is what I am doing on Day 2 of the Expansion.

QUESTING
I decided to begin today with some basic quests from Valiance Keep area and ended up in some really interesting spots. One of quests took me to the ancient mariner ghostly area of RipLash Ruins. The added graphic tunnel effect on the screen added to the dismal haunted feeling – almost as if you could feel the fog and cold salt water on your face. My questing for the day ended up in the Fizzcranks Airstrip with the Gnomes who apparently had a “malfunction” while installing their water systems. I will let you read the quest and find out what the those wacky gnomes did now.

SIGHTSEEING -
I did some sightseeing to, and traveled up a long broken highway at the very North eastern edge of Dragonblight that leads further north to tower over Crystalsong Forest. It appears to be an ancient Titan road, complete with Jotun the Curse Bearer who still walks the road, seemingly oblivious to the world around him. The large highway ends abruptly (sort of like a California highway after an earthquake) , but the view from this spot is worth the trip.

I mentioned on a previous episode that a quest given by Bishop Lazaril in Shattrath during the scourge invasion prompted you to speak with Tyrande Whisperwind. She mentions something about another world tree or “great tree”. Perhaps I have found it or maybe one like it in the West central area of Crystalsong Forest underneath the shadow of the city of Dalaran. All is not right with the rest of this forest though, and runes shimmer upon the bark of the Great Tree …is that good or bad? You will need to quest there and discover the story of the struggle over this forest and the life who reside there.

Special thanks to Kynas.

DEATH KNIGHTS
I have to admit, I did make a death knight and went through the entire quest chain. I wasn’t in the BETA, so this was my first time experiencing the new class and all quests associated with it. What made this starting zone unique from all the others is that you are inside an instance the entire time. The instance opens up other aspects or changes the landscape based on which part of the story arc you are on. The series ends with the Battle of Light’s Hope in which Fordring of the Silverhand battles against Arthus, the Lich King.

The Battle of Light’s Hope Chapel is a scripted event, sort of like being in a movie. The intent of it is to lead you through the entire story of how the Death knights came to be free. But from a graphical standpoint the Argent Dawn and the Death Knight regiments fight against one another was like watching 100s of cats run amok in a field. Trying to jump in and get involved was humorous. However, from a role-play or story standpoint, I had my Death knight kneeling down at the end with the other Death knight NPCs in defeat or reverence… the world of the Death Knights was going to change dramatically. Arthus was defeated at this battle.

Many players are trying to run quickly through the quests and level their characters. However, I hope you stop to read through the stories and listen to the dialogue that takes place. I found the entire experience from beginning to end interesting, fun, and often poignant.

Have fun everyone.

Music
From the Game

Northrend Day 1

2008-11-13T16:16:00.000-08:00

Northrend Day 1

Hello everyone, this is Stardancer of Off the Beaten Path, and this is what I am doing in Northrend. If you didn’t know, my main character is a feral druid, named Stardancer.

When I finally got the expansion installed and updated (I won’t go into details about the trouble I had with that), I immediately took Star to Stormwind, boarded the boat in the new harbor and sailed to Northrend.

Arriving at the Valiance Keep in Borean Tundra, I knew there would be upgrades to tradeskills and the like, so I upgraded my cooking, fishing, alchemy, herbing, and first aid. Star is an alchemist, so getting those 5 or 6 new recipes right off the bat, made my day.

I stumbled upon a Stable Master south behind the barracks. Not sure why I felt the need to click on him being a druid and all, but I am glad I did. He gives you back quest pets you may have lost or gotten rid of. For Star, she got back her MiniWing that I unfortunately had to delete when space was a premium.

Most players I could see where busy in their starting quests. But for your's truly, I was already off exploring and started by heading due east of the Keep. Stardancer is currently making a home at Star’s Rest (an apt name in my opinion) in Dragonblight -- hanging with the Valiance Expedition and the Winter’s Sisters, the new winter dryads.

One of my friends pointed out the beauty of how the snow in these regions were graphically displayed… with bits of grass and rocks visible here and there. This reminds me of snowy terrain you would see in real life when the seasons of fall and winter are vy for the landscape.

Anyway, that’s what I am doing in Northrend…
Can’t wait to see what else I find for tomorrow.

Have fun everyone!

55. Death Knights, Oh My!

2008-11-08T11:49:00.000-08:00

Text for the audio segment "Off the Beaten Path" on Epic Dolls Podcast # 55

So, with the new patch and impending WOLTK expansion this week, feral druids are really coming into their own… and that me refunded talent points –TWICE--. Fun times.

PLACES TO SEE
I spent an evening in the Death Knight starting grounds exploring. While nothing resided there between the patch 3.0 and the expansion, it made for a great way to see everything unencumbered. If you haven’t had a chance, take the flight up to Light’s Hope Chapel in Eastern Plaguelands and head into the area along the eastern coast behind Tyr’s hand in the region called Scarlet Enclave.

Above the towns of New Avalon and Havenshire is the looming floating Necropolis called Acherus: The Ebon Hold (ACK-err-us). It was once the stronghold for the Lich King until the battle of Light’s Hope Chapel. Now Ebon Hold belongs to the Knights of the Ebon Blade, Death Knights who are now renegade.

There are some interesting spots within the region of the Scarlet Enclave… including a light house and town areas that remind me of the ruins of Moonbrook in Westfall. Basically the area is the starting zone or newbie are for Death Knights. I always find it interesting that there is always a mine of some sort in newbie zones. Death Knights aren’t an exception. Haha.

QUESTS
Many of the old instances and dungeons may still be grey on your Achievement lists even if you know you have been through them a time or two already. It is worth gathering a group and dungeon-ing to attain the achievement associated with them. Also, while doing the heroic daily we encountered some frost lock boxes which until the expansion comes out can’t be opened yet. We are all curious about what could be in the box? Several other unusual items have been dropping as well, so for the next few days if you have time, I recommend visiting a few dungeons.

During the Scourge Invasion, Bishop Lazaril who stood near the Aldor wanted you to bring a Light-infused Artifact to Tyrande Whisperwind in Darnassus. Tyrande actually provided some rather interesting information about Northrend…it appears there is another World Tree being cultivated there. While she didn’t offer more information, that was enough to make sure to seek it out when Northrend is open.

Role Playing Tips
Death Knights

Rpmadesimple.org offered some great advice and tips for role playing the new Death Knight class. He writes that Death Knights have a similarity to what the Forsaken had to go through with being undead minions then being free. The difference is that your body ended up at Acherus, the idea is to get an understanding of who the character was prior to being dead and reborn as a Death Knight.

He recommends the following:

Listen carefully to the opening narration that accompanies the creation process of your character
Read through the quests and listen to the conversations of the surrounding NPS who offer a great way to understand the mood and plight of the Death Knights.
And Death Knights can be unique and not necessarily another Arthas

Some ideas to help the character be unique are adding in particular quirks such as perhaps your Knight can’t stand holy ground or perhaps her past victims are ghosts which haunt her. He also wrote that Death Knights are examples of what are called "Byronic Heroe s", flawed, or dark heroes such as Batman, Xena, or even Sirius Black from Harry Potter. These sorts of heroes have troubled backgrounds and carry a lot of emotional baggage from their pasts.

RpMadeSimple also states that in a role play capacity, past friends and associates may still define Death Knights as evil and have trouble seeing them beyond their association with the scourge. Trust and friendships may need to be reearned or relearned as the Death Knights tries to assimilate back into their subsequent faction.

Ah, an here’s an interesting little spoiler… One thing that’s crept up since the Scourge Attacks and in Northrend are the Darkfallen. These are a mix of Blood Elf, Death Knight and vampire.

Have fun everyone! See you in Northrend...

Music:
All music from the Game

54. Player's Most Creepy Places

2008-11-08T11:43:00.000-08:00

Text for the audio segment "Off the Beaten Path" on Epic Dolls Podcast # 54

Patch 3.0 brought the most amazing changes to Warcraft in a long time. Stardancer, my feral druid character, is a ravenous attack cat –and is the way I envisioned her back when the feral druid talent was a pipe-dream. There were so many changes -- I am not sure where to begin! I have done everything from obtaining new hairstyles for my characters to working down the achievement list for Hallows End. My friends and I have been successfully heroic dungeon-ing lately and turning to each other to ask, “This IS set to heroic right?” The achievement list and new talents are among my favorite part of the new patch.

"Yes, Star…but what about YOUR World Exploration??" you ask.
With the exception of a few slivers of horde areas (and Northrend), yours truly had explored everywhere on the Exploration Achievement list and then some. I am really looking forward to Wrath of the Lich King and all the new real estate offered for exploration.

PLACES TO SEE
On Epic Dolls Episde 52, in honor of Hollows End Creep fest, I presented my top five creepiest places in Azeroth. Thank you to all the posts and email sending in listener thoughts on the creepiest places in Azeroth….these are yours~

Coming all the way from Germany, Janic wrote in to tell us about the creepy Goldshire children. There are six children Dana, Cameron, Jose, John, Aaron, and Lisa which can be seen running from Stormwind or Northshire to head upstairs in the Leatherworking house of Goldshire. There are rumors about their significance, but their action is bizarre to say the least. Apparently, the children always form a circle with Cameron in the center and all face a certain direction depending on the time of day. Indeed, definitely creepy.

Paquita posted that the whole eastern plaguelands zone is among the creepiest spots. Yeah, there is nothing like armies of undead and diseased life to add to the entire ick-factor for adventurers Nitewind also posted with regard to the instance of Stratholme and makes a great Halloween adventure to revisit.

“ Stratholme is the Scourge capital, a city of evil and dark magic. Once a great human city, the mad Prince Arthas ravaged Stratholme in the Third War and the undead moved in soon after” --Wowwiki

Gramaul mentioned that the dim lighting and leper gnomes and trogs in Gnomeregan are pretty creepy.

“When the war against the Burning Legion ended, the Alliance discovered the reason for the Gnomes' sudden withdrawal. Apparently, an ancient, barbaric menace had risen from the bowels of the earth and invaded Gnomeregan. Knowing that their allies' priority was defeating the Burning Legion, the Gnomes decided to make their stand alone. Though they fought valiantly to save their beloved city, Gnomeregan was irrevocably lost.” --WoWwiki

Xtian posted that he really liked the ambiance for Shadowfang keep. I have to agree, where else can you get a creepy dark castle full of ghosts AND Werewolves? The mad mage Arugal is just as bad.

WoWwiki writes: “During the Third War, Arugal made these Worgen as allies but they could not be controlled and turned on him and the other soldiers. He went mad after this and now accepts them as his "children." His worgen run rampant. throughout much of the forest.”

Yeah… creepy.

Thanks to Roswynn for this next one which is definitely Duskwood and writes, “The Alliance zone right next to Karazhan. It holds Darkshire and Raven Hill. Stitches, the Embalmer, and his bride, Morbent Fel, Stalvan Mistmantle, and the ever irritating Mor'ladim. You go from the relative normalcy of Elwynn Forest and Westfall to the evil creepiness of Duskwood when leveling as an Ally. The change in atmosphere makes it very memorable. Most Hordies probably have never been there except when running through there on the way to raiding Stormwind.”

While you are in Duskwood, don’t forget to visit the Secret Garden of Knight’s Hollow.. You can reach it by heading towards Deadwind pass, taking the left behind the Horde Forsaken Tower – Beggar’s Haunt (NE of Darkshire), and following the trail up behind it.

Invidia posted that Desolace was pretty creepy. I hadn’t really thought of it that way until the mention of the Kodo graveyard which has a sad overtone. The feeling being there is one of being alone out in a desolate place. Admittedly, I discovered Shadowbreak Ravine for the first time not too long ago. After all these years playing, I never knew it was there, home to the burning blade casters, there is an entire area located south east corner behind the Magram Village.

Velanna and I both agree that Undercity is probably the most creepiest spot in Azeroth. Although with the zombie invasion, downtown Shattrath is looking pretty grim! But for the capital of the forsaken, its the rivers of green goo circling the city, the cockroach pet salesman, the walking nightmare stitches guards… Yeah… Undercity wins! Haha. Oh yeah, don’t forget to stop in and visit the new Sylvanas Windrunner.

I hope you are having a great time adventuring, seeing the world, and enjoying your new talents.

Have fun everyone!

52. Creepy Hallows End!

2008-10-18T16:26:00.000-07:00

Text for the audio segment "Off the Beaten Path" on Epic Dolls Podcast # 52

CREEPY! HALLOWS END
Deathknights are coming soon, and its October, so let’s talk about the creepiest places in World of Warcraft.

PLACES TO SEE
To continue with World Exploration, These are my top five creepiest places to visit in World of Warcraft.

5 Coming in at number five for creepiness, is walking around inside the Karazhan instance by yourself after areas have been cleared. The architecture is wonderful but something about the place feels extremely spooky, as if some thing will be jumping out at you at any time. The convoluted hallways leading up to Aran, are probably the highlight…be sure to look straight up.

4 Positioned at the Number four on my list of creepy spots is the Amber Web pass on Blood Myst Island, one of the Draenei starting areas. Something about those scary looking spiders and webs strung all over the place, makes me want to get out a huge can of raid.

3 Coming in at Number three on my list has to be Darrowshire in Eastern Plaguelands. According history, during the second war, Darrowshire was attacked by a Scourge regiment led by the ghoul lord Horgus the Ravager and the death knight Marduk Blackpool. Darrowshire is ruined village that appears haunted by sadness and loss. It is said that the people who fell here wander aimlessly through plaguelands as ghouls.

2 Number 2 as one of the creepiest spots to visit has to be Silithus, which located in the south western corner of Kalimdor. Silithus was once the grand empire of the race known as Aqiri. To us, it is infested with giant swarming insects called silithids and in the middle of the zone is their HUGE main hive – they are buzzing and flying all around it. This brings back every nightmare of bee and wasp stings when I was kid. Don’t forget to visit their pulsating Silithid tunnels all around the zone…those definitely raises the ick factor for me.

1 The Number 1 creepiest spot to me has to be the - Apothecarium in the southwest corner of Undercity. This is by far one of the most demented places in WoW. There are twisted parts of bodies hanging on chains from the ceiling, and electrical currents and arcing from the metallic spindles. This place is like Doctor Frankenstein meet Jack Skellington of Nightmare Before Christmas.
These were my top five creepiest spots. If you would like to submit your creepiest spots and have them aired on the next episode, write us here at epicdolls and title it “creepiest spots” for Stardancer.

Unusual Quests
If you are working on Quest achievements, Let’s talk about spooky quests.

When you happen to be visiting Darrowshire, Eastern Plaguelands, you may encounter a small house on the eastern side. The single inhabitant of these dismal ruins, is the ghostly form of a young girl playing in the front room. She does not realize she is dead. If you start conversing with her she says…

My auntie Marlene told me to stay here in our house because my father had to go and fight. My father's the bravest man in the whole world! But I've been here for a long time, and he hasn't come for me. Sometimes bad people come and whisper to me and I want my dad to make them go away, but he's not here! And sometimes when it gets dark I want to play with my doll but I can't because I left it in town. Will you find my doll for me?

Finding Pamela’s Doll begins with a quest entitled “Little Pamela” given by the ghost Marlene Redpath at Sorrow Hill in Western Plaguelands. This is not only a spooky quest, but a heart wrenching epic tale of what happened to her father.

Role Playing Tips
For Role Playing Tips this week, I want to give a shout out to Moon Guard Server. For the past two and half weeks, I began characters on both alliance and horde to test out the role-playing climate on Moon Guard a RP server. It was pretty amazing. There were role-players in Brill, on the street to Lordaeron, they were in the courtyard, and inside the city, there was role playing inside Silvermoon, and outside on the road, the courtyards, and even down by the lake ---and even in newbie zones. I found people willing to role-play on both horde and alliance sides.

Adding the mod FlagRSP2 helped me a great deal as I could easily identify other role players and join in.

This is a server with a population that earnestly maintains a RP climate there. If you are serious about role playing, this seems to be a great place to try.

Music: All music from the game

51. Herod, Carlos, and Story Nights

2008-09-23T13:11:00.000-07:00

Text for the audio segment "Off the Beaten Path" on Epic Dolls Podcast # 51

Whew! It has been a few weeks and SO much is happening. The release of Wrath of the Lich King coming out in November 13…and I can hardly wait. So, let’s keep filling in those maps for World Exploration!

PLACES TO SEE
This next place to travel and see comes from one of our listeners --Kever the Warlock from Uldum server ---who wrote in to remind us about the Caverns of Time instance “Escape from Durnholde Keep.” The instance in the Caverns of Time takes you back about seven years in Old Hillsbrad Foothills history.

In addition to the quest part of the instance which resides in Durnholde Keep, there are other areas of the zone are open for exploration at anytime including Tarren Mill and Southshore --Technically called Old Hillsbrad Foothills. There is a traveling merchant named Thomas Yance, who walks from Southshore to Tarren Mill and back again. He sells the Riding Crop leather recipe and is available for armor repairs.

But what is interesting about Old Hillsbrad is the NPC quest stars who inhabit the small towns. For example, in Tarren Mill two children are running around… Jay and Julie. In present day, Jay is Jason Lemieux a forsaken mushroom vendor who wanders Tarren Mill and Julie Honeywell becomes a young mage apprentice in Southshore.

Of more notable interest are Kel’thuzad and Helcular who are still human in this part of history. Kel’thuzad you may remember is an ArchLich of Plaguelands. If you follow with them and their dialogue, you can get an idea of their mind-set which resulted in their decent into lich-dom. Also in Southshore is a variety of children that have names you may recognize such as Sally Whitemane, Renault Morgraine, and Herod the Bully who are bosses that you encounter in present day Scarlet Monastery. There are quite a few other notables around these towns, but I will leave that exploration up to you.

Unusual Quests
While you are doing Old Hillsbrad Foothills…there is quest called Don Carlos Famous hat or simply “Nice Hat.”

In patch 2.4.3 an NPC that was added outside Gadgetzan in the grave yard named Don Carlos. He starts a quest called “Nice Hat” at level 68. Don Carlos challenges you to defeat his younger self in Old Hillsbrad Foothills. In regular mod, you win just his hat, on heroic mode, the hat has a clickable feature which will allow you to summon a coyote spirit. The rest of Don Carlos’ outfit can be made by a tailor…and voila! You have a complete Zorro outfit for parties!

Role Playing Tips
One of our listeners was on hiatus from WoW for a while and came back to the game recently. When he returned to his RP server he felt a little bit out of the loop. He had some really great questions …

How do Role-Players find RP on their realm...or any realm?
And how do players and guilds increase RP opportunities?

Thanks Sean, for writing to us.

With any long term game, the dynamics and game play itself start to become a bit of a grind. KEEPING THINGS FRESH is probably the number one key to longevity in the game and in role-play. Aspects that help keep a game fresh and new is in the discovery of

new places
discovery of new players
changing outfits
changing what a character looks like
and exploration of new and interesting class, trade, or skill sets.

Blizzard has recognizes that players need a little bit more than the grind –and implement new things all the time from fishing competitions, Darkmoon faire, season events-- and with expansions comes new classes, new talents, new trade skill, and ways to change existing characters such as new hairstyles and the barber shops. So, in a sense patch 3.0 and the new expansion in some ways will make Warcraft fresh and new. This will open opportunities for player interactions…and possibly a role play renaissance.

That’s great Star, but HOW do you find these role-players?
I interviewed Tharion Greyseer (Epic Dolls #31 iTunes URL) some months back and he gave some very helpful advice about this very topic. He said the first thing to do is to start reading through posts at the various role-play server forums at worldofwarcraft.com. If you read through the posts regularly, such as once a day… you can weed through the ramble and recognize stories, character ideas, people looking for other role-players, and posts about upcoming role-play events which are organized by players and guilds for both Alliance and Horde. If you start attending some of these events even if you aren’t active at first, you can get a great idea of the style and nuance of the role-players to see if this group is what you are looking for.

I found everything from story circles, to huge story lines between guilds, to group gatherings at the Darkmoon Faire! I was actually surprised by the number of activities that were taking place throughout the week and had to start keeping them on my calendar. Also, please note that these types of events are organized by players…players who have lives outside of Warcraft and are giving their time to help organize events …so do participate, and participate with respect and be curteous to them and other players. How to Organize Events?
Maybe the events that other players are organizing and hosting don’t suit your own ideas…then perhaps you are interested in starting your own. Gathering people together inside a game is a challenge and is dependent on other people’s schedules and getting the word out about your event. Be sure to post your event regularly on the official server forums, bump the post up everyday so other players can read it and find it, and be consistent. What tends to draw people to places and events is continuity and regularity… even if it is just you and one other friend there at the beginning.

One of the most successful role-play events that I can recall, was a regular story night which was held every Tuesday evening. It was a tireless job, but role-players could count on it always being there because of the tireless determination of a small group of players who made a commitment to host it. Also, posting a news article after the event about what transpired is helpful as well. So, whether you want to host a regular story/poetry night or maybe a sightseeing tour be consistent, be open to other player styles, and have fun.

Music:
Music from World of Warcraft.
Seguidilla – Guitarras de Carman (Terry Muska)

49. Newmans, Tauren, and FlagRSP2

2008-08-22T11:39:00.000-07:00

Text for the Audio Segment "Off the Beaten Path" as heard on Epic Dolls Podcast #49

Previously, we have spoken on the topic of the new Player Achievements systems which will be coming out with Wrath of the Lich King. To recap this new system ….You will be able to achieve a variety of goals in such areas as

excellence in professions
successfully completing a number of quests
gaining tabards and other whimsical items
Most importantly to Off the Beaten Path is the achievement of “World Explorer”.

Even some achievements, such as world exploration, will be applied to your character retroactively.”

PLACES TO SEE

So let’s continue clearing those maps with a few way-out-of-the-way but fascinating places to see in WoW.This next location will take you some time to get to, so be sure you have the time to travel.

This out of the way spot resides behind the hills of Stormwind on the Western coastline which is only accessible by swimming from another zone. It is basically a wooden dock with a landmark sign that reads “Newman’s Landing.” There is a table with lanterns and drinks, and sunken boat in the water below. The accommodations are sparse as the only residence is an old slat building with the remains of its previous owners inside. But there are no monsters or creatures in the area.

I first traveled to this spot by jumping into the northern ocean from Westfall and swam all the way north until I reached it. When swimming, stay close to the coastline so you don’t get fatigued.

It should be noted that if you stand in Newman's Landing, you leave all zones in Azeroth. A shift-click on a person's name will show them in the location, "Unknown", and for the location next to a character's name in a guild roster, there is simply a blank space. I ventured again to the location before this segment and click on my name in the guild menu and my character had a blank indicating the zone she was in. Neat!

As to why this place exists…There was a rumor that early in Warcraft, while new players were watching the opening scenes playing of their character’s race, their new character would briefly appear in this location before entering their respective newbie zone.

I was not able to verify if several sections on the map get cleared by coming here (like Coldridge valley for example) as I had already visited this location before. One of our listeners will have to travel there and write to us to let us know.

This next suggestion comes from a listener, Aideyn of Earthen ring, who wrote in to remind us about the Abandoned Tauren Outpost which is located on the coastline in the South Western corner of Silithus. Although it is quite the swim to get there, it is a large uninhabited area that houses a Tauren home complete with firepots, a farm, canoes, and huge trees to climb. East of the Farm on that same coastline is a rather extensive and slightly unique unhabited cavern system. A friend suggested this as a place for a thieves guild meeting (thieves with a warlock summoner in the midst might be nice.)

I traveled back to this outpost to see if any changes have been implemented to it, but its still just as peaceful and serene as the first time I encountered it. I am not sure that any map clearing happens at this location, but if you are looking for an out of the way role-play spot, guild party, or mystery dinner theatre, this is a great one.

You can reach this location by two methods, WoWwiki recommends heading west along the coastline from Land’s End Beach in Tanaris. However, I left from the shores of Feralas and swam south.

Thank you Aideyn for writing to us. Thank you Kynas for showing me this incredible place the first time.

UNUSUAL QUESTS

In addition to the world exploration achievement, don’t forget that there are also achievements in questing. So here at Off the Beaten path, we mention the unusual or out of the way quests.

On the coast of Feralas is a rather bizarre but fun quest called Zapped Giants. This quest is available to horde and alliance around level 45 or higher.

It starts with Zorbin Fandazzle who stands on the western shoreline of Feralas near the dock. He is also an engineering vendor and is affiliated with the Steamwheedle Cartel. Zorbin insists that his shrink ray uses Superior Goblin technology in its construction, so you do not need to fear being blown up by using the device even if you aren’t an engineer. So for all those meandering monstrous elite sea giants, you can simply zap them with Zorbin’s provided shrink ray, and voila! They are no longer elite and are tiny. The completion of both these quests allows you to access Zorbin’s engineering wares.

Accessing Zorbin’s goods and gaining Steamweedle faction, basically that’s it -- other than the sheer fun of zapping and smacking giants. Since the quest is repeatable, why not host a wacky guild event or a competition with players running amok all along the coast shrinking giants. Fun times!

Role Playing Tips
FlagRSP2

I have mentioned that many Role-players tend to utilize the mod FlagRSP2 when venturing into the realm to role-play. This mod allows players to create unique surnames and character descriptions that other players with the mod can read when targeting each other. This is a fascinating idea and one that is already implemented inside of other MMOs such as in City of Heroes.

When writing up one of my player’s profiles for FlagRSP2, I was slightly struck with what to write, or how to know when I have too much or not enough. To amend my lack of a profile, One of my role-play friends reminded me to use it more for a basic physical description not a character’s entire history. He also suggested the following:

Keep the description short and simple. People usually want to get right to the role-play not read three pages of character descriptions. You can save more in depth character biographies for the forums. My friend also mentioned that you should include the threes, list one physical trait, one emotional demeanor or mood, and one subtle but obscure or interesting thing that would cause other people to notice. An example would be this description of a mage below:

“A dimensional traveler and collector of artifacts and relics, this High Elf Elementalist searches the varied worlds for objects of power to study and safeguard. His manner seems focused and he speaks with low cautious tones --language and the elements are his sword and shield. His eyes are hard but shimmer with a poorly hidden note of sadness.”

In this short paragraph you know the character is a mage, a blood elf, a traveler, is educated, and has endured something grave. The “poorly hidden note of sadness” draws you in and makes you want to walk up and ask, “I noticed that you seem a little sad. Can I ask why?” --and suddenly you are role-playing.

48. Silverpine to Superman

2008-08-11T16:41:00.000-07:00

Text for Off the Beaten Path segment featured on Epic Dolls Podcast #48

Previously, we have spoken on the topic of the new Player Achievements systems which will be coming out with Wrath of the Lich King.

To recap this new system ….You will be able to achieve a variety of goals in such areas as

1. excellence in professions
2. successfully completing a number of quests
3. completing world and seasonal events
4. reputation achievements
5. gaining tabards and other whimsical items
6. PVP and raiding
7. Most importantly to Off the Beaten Path is the achievement of "World Explorer".

Some achievements, including those that involve quests, items currently in your possession, skills (including professions), exploration, and reputations, will be applied to your character retroactively." For world exploration, that means the places you have visited and cleared on your world map.

PLACES TO SEE
So let's continue clearing those maps with more fascinating places to see in WoW.

Last week, I mentioned that Alliance players and Horde players may need to make a special trip to Azuremyst Island (the Draenei starting point) to sightsee and clear their maps. One of my friends mentioned that another often overlooked location for Alliance and Horde players to do some map clearing is Silverpine Forest. Many Alliance will have the road cleared due to heading up towards Scarlet Monastery or Shadowfang Keep, but there are several interesting places to visit in the zone as well.

Silverpine Forest stretches across Lordaeron's western coast was once a lush and verdant wooded glen. During the Third War, the forest was affected by the plague. The forces of the Lich King invaded the woods, setting fire to the crops and massacring its people. In the southwestern corner, the once Alliance town of Pyrewood remains almost in tact, as the humans of the village survived the onslaught of the scourge. They paid a terrible price for their determination. You will need to travel there after 9pm dawn to see what happened to the people there.

Farther south from Pyrewood is another interesting location called the Kingdom of Gilneas, which is ruled by Lord Greymane. The Lord never supported the Lordaeron Alliance in the Second War and after the war, he constructed the Greymane Wall to keep out horde and alliance alike. You can see the gate of the wall, but the wall is said to span the entire southern area, bordering off Gilneas permanently from Lord Daeron. There are humans outside the gates, which are hostile except for the one neutral weapons vendor named Wallace the Blind.

In the North eastern area of Silverpine forest, Lordamere Lake resides between the Forsaken lands of Tirisfal Glades and Silverpine Forest, and the contested lands of the Alterac Mountains. In the center of the Lake is Fenris Isle inhabited by gnolls, murlocs, and bog beasts. The ring of islands was to represent the rim of an ancient volcano. So, I took a dive to check it out.

North Tide's Run is on the North Western Shore of Silverpine. Being an Alliance druid, I had never been to this location before. Ashore, is a huge wrecked ship which is to mark the area where Horde Druids should swim out to and locate a quest item for their aquatic form. So, I challenge the horde druids to fill in their maps of the western shore of Westfall (near a huge anchor) and swim out to locate the area where Alliance druids get theirs.

UNUSUAL QUESTS
This next often overlooked quest comes from a listener email, thanks go to Bloodwyn from the Destromath server. I have mentioned this quest before briefly, but I think I will tell you more about it. Don't forget that in addition to player achievements in world exploration, there is also one for questing.

Blizzard includes all kinds of pop culture mixed into their original ideas into their world. They also tend to include historically based stories from real life. I think this encourages players to look up the information outside of the game and read it. As our listen put it, this quest is all about story and atmosphere, and shows just how much care is lavished on the story of Azeroth.

The Sully Balloo quest is based on an actual historical event. Unfortunaely, the quest is Alliance only and requires L25 to start. Hopefully, for horde players they have an alliance character around somewhere where they can do the quest.

If you swim to the bottom of the Thandol span and look around the major rubble and broken stones of the bridge, you will locate a small skeletal hand underneath one of the stones. In the hand is clutched an envelope which begins the quest.

Inside the envelope is a letter which begins:

My Dear Sara,

The indications are very strong that we shall move to take watch over the Thandol Span in a few days. Lest I shall not be able to write to you again. I feel impelled to write a few lines that may fall under your eye when I shall be no more.

I think I will save the rest of the heart wrenching letter for you adventurers to discover for yourselves. You follow the instructions in the quest which will take you back to Ironforge to his wife Sara Balloo.

This quest is based on the correspondence written July 14th, 1861 by a Union soldier in the American Civil War. The soldier's name was Maj. Sullivan Ballou of the 2nd Rhode Island Volunteers and was the final letter to his wife before the Battle of Bull Run.

In the the game, it is literally heart-wrenching to bring the letter to Sara, and the proceed with the somber tasks of notifying King Magni Bronzebeard. Afterward, you are involved in the construction of a memorial to Sully, the dwarf who risked his life at Thandol span.

As Bloodwyn notated, 'the comments from the various NPC's are wonderfully thought out and comment on love, war, and loyalty. "

Thank you for writing to us.

Role Playing Tips
Mary Sue

This next information will not only help you role play your Warcraft characters better, but if you are an aspiring author with novel ideas or action adventure films, this may help your characters there too. More recently, I have been reading and hearing about the term "Mary Sue." This refers to cliched characters that are unbelievable and stereotyped.

Wikipedia defines this:

The term describes a fictional character who plays a major role in the plot and is particularly characterized by overly idealized mannerisms, lacking noteworthy flaws, and primarily functioning as wish-fulfillment fantasies for their authors. In role-playing games, original characters may also be criticized as "Mary Sues" if they dominate the spotlight or are too unrealistic or unlikely in other ways.

I keep thinking about Superman —He is almost god-like… he's tall, beautiful, flawless, he can fly, run fast, has x-ray vision, heat-vision, cold breath, stops speeding bullets, stop a locomotives, flies into space, flies underwater, and more. When you add all that up, it begins to make him sound beyond believable. He is too many wonderful things to be believable. Marvel comics used to think the same way, so Stan Lee introduced super heroes who were more flawed and had only one or a couple of extraordinary abilities. People were able to accept these heroes and identify with them more. In my opinion, the Spiderman character is the more believable than Superman because we have all gamed with or personally know someone who is much like Peter Parker. I can't say I know anyone like Superman. A great flawed character is X-men's Rogue, who has a tremendous power but is unable to touch people or express herself physically.

I know when we enter Warcraft and figuratively put on our Nightelf or Tauren costumes, our characters allow us to be heroic in many ways. The idea in Role-playing is to not be so heroic that we are too superman. As you craft your role-playing character, make sure your character doesn't slip into the Mary Sue mold. Using simple flaws that you can recognize is such heroes in Marvel comics, favorite novels, and movies can help you.

Special thanks: rpmadesimple.org on Mary Sue

Have fun everyone!

47. Azuremyst to Wonder Woman

2008-08-11T16:09:00.000-07:00

Text for Off the Beaten Path featured on Epic Dolls Podcast #47

WORLD EXPLORATION
Last week we talked about the new Player Achievements systems which will be coming out with Wrath of the Lich King. I like this new system, as it will appeal more widely to the variety of players.

To recap this new system …You will be able to achieve a variety of goals in such areas as excellence in professions, successfully completing a number of quests, completing world and seasonal events, reputation achievements, gaining tabards and other whimsical items, PVP and raiding --- BUT most importantly to Off the Beaten Path is the achievement of "World Explorer".

"Some achievements, including those that involve quests, items currently in your possession, skills (including professions), exploration, and reputations, will be applied to your character retroactively.

PLACES TO SEE
So let's continue clearing those maps with places to see.

World events like the Summer Fire Festival encourage players to travel to far away places to obtain items, or to start or put out a fire. These different events are just a few great ways you can clear areas on your world maps. However, unless you play a Draenei character then players of Alliance and Horde alike a place may need to make a special trip to explore Azuremyst Islands.

While the main Island is the primary location and historically is where the Exodar ship crash landed, there are several other Islands in the vicinity that should also be included in your travels. Ammen Vale is the starting zone for the Draenei and is located across the Ammen Ford off the Eastern side. If you are circling the vale to fill in your map, don't miss heading up into the hillside of the south eastern corner into Nestlewood Hills.

The Exodar's crash was halted by a mountain located on the Western coast. If you travel north and then west around the back of the Exodar, this will lead travelers and Shamans to an almost hidden path leading up to the top--this area is called Wildwind Peak. Other spots on the main island are Emberglade coast in the east and Stillpine Hold in the central area. In the south west corner, the Naga have a series of ruins and inhabit a network of tunnels. Off the south west corner shoreline is Silvermyst Island which was once a night elf fishing village.

Several parts of the Exodar ship landed on the island located in the North which caused all kinds of havoc on the wildlife and vegetation – the island is now called Bloodmyst. Several spots of interest include a small island called Wyrmscar located off the North eastern shore which is home to the ghost dragon, Razormaw. Another small island just south of that one is Bloodcurse Island, filled with Naga and the shrine they worship. A notable creature who resides on Bloodmyst is the giant spider known as Zarakh—she is located in the winding hillside of Amberweb Pass. For hunters, the spiders that inhabit the area offers an opportunity to tame a unique looking pet.

An interesting bit of history involves the Vector Coil located West central of Bloodmyst. Bloodelf invaders had come to the island to feed and otherwise harnass energy leaking from the broken shards of the crashed ship. They are lead by an Eredar named Sironas.

UNUSUAL QUESTS
Last weekend, I had the opportunity to attend the International Comicon in San Diego California. It was an awesome event and it is worth it for everyone to go to at least once. I was happy to see that World of Warcraft was there and that they presented a world wide debut of figurines as well as offered fans a place to play the Warcraft card game together. So, to further extend the fun of the Comicon I thought I would present quests or NPCs with comics, heroes, or similar reference. Enjoy~

#1. SAMOPHLANGE
The reference is from the 80's cartoon called the Thundercats .
Panthro, says the following line, "And keep your foot off that blasted Samophlange!"
Since then, Samophlange has come to be defined as any piece of sensitive technical equipment that may or may not actually exist.

Samophlange the WoW quest, begins with Sputtervalve who is located in Ratchet.
================================================================================
#2. SUPERMAN
In the small town of Southshore is a small farm who is tended by Farmer Kent. This references Clark Kent who grew up on the Kent farm in Kansas until he left for the city of Metropolis and became Superman. Farmer Kent is seen in both Hillsbrad and in Old Hillsbrad Caverns of Time instance. http://www.wowwiki.com/Farmer_Kent
==============================================================================
#3. The Transformers
Maybe a slight stretch, but for Transformers fans, the names Ironside and Grimlock represent Transformers. Ironhide who fought against the Decepticons and Grimlock is T-rex who is the leader of the Dinobots.

In Warcraft, a trog named Grimlok resides inside Uldaman and quotes, "Me Grimlok, KING!" which is a direct transformer reference. Grimlok is a T-rex dinobot, so interestingly enough there is an Ironhide Dinosaur in Un'Goro crater.
==================================================================================
#4. MAN-THING or SWAMPTHING
In the 70's Stan Lee and Marvel Comics created, The Man-Thing. Looking at the cover of issue #1 and then looking at the image of the WoW Bog Beast, you can easily see the reference.

In Warcraft --Bog beasts are classified in World of Warcraft as Elementals and look like swamp monsters. You can find Bog Beasts and similar type creatures in Teldrassil), and Swamp of Sorrows, and Menthil Harbor.
=============================================================================
#5. Wonder Woman
In the 70's there was a Wonder Woman series starring Lynda Carter. Wonder Woman's secret identity is Diana Prince who spins to transform into Wonder Woman. She has a golden lasso she wraps around enemies to force them to tell the truth.

In Warcraft – Wonder Woman is referenced by the captured Arko'narin in the Shadow Hold of Jaedenar, Felwood. You release this female night elf from her cage and escort her to where her armor and weapon are stored. She spins many times and then suddenly appears in her armor. Arko'narin quotes: "All I need now is a golden lasso"
=========================================================================
#6 HE-MAN, Masters of the Universe.
The main character is Prince Adam also known as He-Man who is from a plant called Eternia.

In Warcraft ---An NPC Arathi Basin Battlemaster in Shattrath City wears the same clothes of He-Man from the 80's film, and next to him is his Battle-Tiger or Battle cat, which resembles He-Man's mount Cringer. In closed beta, this NPC was named Adam Heman, but it was changed to Adam Eternum. The NPC says something about a grey skull -- Greyskull is the castle from where He-Man obtained his powers.

Shattrath City - Terrace of Light on the Lower City side.
=========================================================================
# 7. Dr. Doom
In Marvel Comics – Dr. Doom is the Monarch of Latveria and resides with his Doom Bots. He is also one of the main villains in Fantastic Four and X-Men.

In Warcraft – the NPC: Dr. Boom & Boom Bots reside in Netherstorm - outside Area 52 at Camp of Boom
=============================================================================
# 8. Manimal
In the early 80's there was a TV series about a shape-shifting man who can turn himself into any animal, and uses this ability to fight crime.

In Warcraft, druids shape-shift. There is a quest in Shadowmoon Valley offered by Earthmender Torlok called Enraged Spirits of the Air, and one of the quest rewards is Manimal's Cinch for druids.

Special thanks goes to BlizzPlanet for these the above quests.

Have fun everyone!

46. World Explorer

2008-07-25T17:38:00.000-07:00

Text for "Off the Beaten Path" on [Epic Doll Podcast # 46]

Blizzard really does listen to their players. It does take them some time to develop and implement new ideas, but we have to give a nod where it is due.

In an effort to make the game appeal to a wider array of player styles than just pvp and raiding, in the upcoming expansion, Wrath of the Lich King, a new system called “Player Achievements” will be introduced. This will help the game stay fresh and interesting to players and accomplishments will be viewable on the Armory. You will be able to achieve a variety of goals in such areas as excellence in professions, successfully completing a number of quests, completing world and seasonal events, reputation achievements, gaining a certain number of tabards and other whimsical items, as well as PVP and raiding. But the one that stood out to me, was that you can achieve the goal of “World Explorer”. Finally, something for those of us who enjoy sight seeing! Yes!

Blizzard writes:

“World Exploration: You’ll earn achievements by exploring each zone in the game -- and get meta-achievements when you fully explore a continent. Unlocking all World Exploration achievements unlocks a World Explorer meta achievement. Some achievements, including those that involve quests, items currently in your possession, skills (including professions), exploration, and reputations, will be applied to your character retroactively.”

What that means in terms of World Exploration is probably how much of all over your maps have been explored and cleared.

PLACES TO SEE
So in honor of the World Exploration player achievements, let’s clear those maps and discover your inner sight see-er.

If you are Alliance some places you may need to fill in the map for is the wonderful green plains of Mulgore, the home of the Tauren. You can easily circle the zone and even pick up Thunderbluff on your map without entering the city, just ride in the valley under bridged areas of the city. Note you will get flagged when you get near the city.

Another spot for Alliance players is definitely the Barrens. Most Alliance players have cleared just the area from Ashenvale down the road to Ratchet to get the flight path. This would account for the reason many Alliance players aren’t familiar with Wailing Caverns instance, Razor Fen instances, or the Koiter monument atop one of the mountains.

Another interesting spot to clear on your map …is to head down the West road from Crossroads, past Honor’s stand, and head into Greatwood Vale of Stonetalon Mountains. For Horde characters, there is small town called Malaka’Jin located on the southern side, which until I played a horde character I never knew existed.

Stonetalon Mountains is definitely a large area with all kinds of places to see and clear on your map. It is located South of Ashenvale, due west of the Barrens , and North of Desolace. It is long network of peaks with isolated areas, but in each of those areas you will find an array of creatures and quests, as well as rare or unique creatures who offer above average treasure. For Alliance and Horde alike this location is a long journey to get a flight path for --For Horde the Flight Path is in Sunrock retreat, for Alliance it is in Stonetalon Peak

An interesting note about Harpies…. · Stonetalon Mountains was originally the home are for Harpies. · Legend has it that harpies descened from night elf women who were cursed by Queen Azshara. · Harpies can be found in the following zones: Teldrassil, The Stonetalon Mountains, Feralas, Mulgore, Thousand Needles, Alterac Valley, The Barrens, and Durotar.

Stonetalon Mountains offers an array of quests, the neurtal faction quests can be gathered in Ratchet. Alliance can gather quests in Ashenvale and in Stonetalon Peak, while Horde has the largest sum of quests for the zone. Quests start at Greatwood Vale, all the way into Sunrock Retreat.

UNUSUAL QUESTS
Caer Darrow is the seemingly abandoned town and island which Scholomance towers overlook in Western Plaguelands. There is a curse on the town…you can hear people conversing as you venture through the main square. You glance around the area but you don’t see anything…it is a curious and haunted place. If can see and interact with the ghosts, you will a merchant there who sells several alchemy and blacksmithing recipes. So how can you see the ghosts? The quest reward called spectral essences allows you to see the ghosts who live in this town. The quest series is offered by Eva Sarkhoff at the entrance to Scholomance

ROLE PLAYING TIPS
PROPS

This week’s role-playing tips come from our friends at rpmadesimple.org, who wrote about completing quests, even a low level one in order to get the item to use a prop for your character. Props can be used in a variety of ways, your character can sit at table that has one of the lore books, and your character can be engrossed in the novel, or your character can be holding an object, even a tome in some cases. These held objects are usually crafted items, merchant bought or quest rewards. They can be anything from a red rose to a wrench.

One of the props mentioned was a cross faction quest offered by a ghost, Captain Greyson located at the lighthouse off the southern coast of Westfall. At completion of his quest, he gives you a torch, which is a neat little prop that illuminates around itself when your character is in a dark place or at night.

We would love to hear about other unusual objects and items you have come across in Warcraft that would make great character props. Feel free to email me at stardancerelf@gmail.com.

45. Primordial Places and Chance

2008-07-17T22:47:00.000-07:00

Text for OFF THE BEATEN PATH on [Epic Dolls Podcast #45]

Patch 2.4.3 is out and the first thing I did was get a mount for characters around level 30. I think that characters such as priests and warriors who don’t have sprint, blink, travel forms, aspect of cheetah, or a free summoned mounts can truly benefit from earlier mounts. It also makes sense to lower the mount level due to the array of quests in the level 30s which require you to travel from zone to zone to zone to collect and deliver quest items.

As far as exploring off the beaten path? Well… this is fanatastic! You can travel more easily at earlier levels! Not only is traveling easier, but also is the ability to work on gathering trade skills. Thanks Blizzard.

PLACES TO SEE
In between the grind of doing dailies and leveling several alts, it is nice to travel about the countryside and see the world. That’s what “off the beaten path” segment is all about, taking time to stop and smell the proverbial peace-blossoms along the way.

In wrath of the lich king, Sholazar Basin (pronounced SHOL-uh-zarh) is primordial world of plant life and animals, thick with vegetation, hot springs, and steam vents. This has brought the infamous Hemet Nesingwary there to study and write another book. In the upcoming expansion, Nesingwary will be relocated to the Basin and leaving his expedition legacy to his son, Nesingwary junior.

Sholazar Basin is very similar in design to Un’Goro Crater. This crater is located between two deserts, Tanaris and Silithus. A flight path is availale to both Horde and Alliance and is located at the Marshall camp in the north. Probably one of the more aggravating but funny events that happens there frequently is getting stepped on by the giant roaming Devilsaurs who despite their size, can sneak up on you.

Not much is known about the history of Un’Goro save for a description by a Geologist Larksbane in Silithus who describes the “Crater as being home to the Titans” [ Un'Goro Crater ]. The site has an amazing array of pop-culture references –everything from Nintendo games to the Beatles -- which makes doing the quests out there humorous and fun.

The zone is also great for mining thorium and herbs, as well as leatherworking. PvPers might find that they can climb the hillside in the far Northeast corner to get out of the way for other players to cook and rest. The view of the zone from this spot is wonderful.

Un’Goro is actually based on the real life The Ngorongoro Conservation Area or NCA located in [ Tanzania ].

ROLE PLAYING TIPS
Timers and Dice

In patch 2.4.3 came the new time management features such as the clock. The clock shows you the official server time as well as the time on your computer (your time zone). This is very helpful when schedule Role Playing times or dungeon crawls.

The other item Blizzard added was the stop watch.The stop watch feature opens some interesting possibilities for role-play as well as guild events. For example, organized races can now be officially timed with the winning times posted or stated on forums for celebration, trophies, or more. In role play, the timers can be used if you were to duel unarmed (hand-to-hand) as a sort of “boxing ring” and timed the rounds.

Most role-players use a sort of story-based style, using exclusively emotes and typing/writing what their character is doing, saying, and feeling. However, the idea of using in-game devices such as timers and dice to accentuate role-played activities and combats isn’t really that new.

Dice rolling, why not?

If you have played D&D or played text-based MMOs, you probably are familiar with the idea of adding in a d20 dice roll to see if you hit or missed something. Leaving it completely to chance and then role-play out whatever that result is even if you lose. You can also use the in-game randomizer (rolling the dice) to help with outcomes of role-played card games, or any other events that may require an element of chance— something that such characters as gamblers, rogues, or privateers would use. (Please note we are talking about purposes of story development and not using the in-game dice to promote casinos and gambling which violate the game’s user agreement)

Of course in Warcraft, the slash-duel command makes this automatic if you duel someone outside of a city. However, what if you were role-playing out a duel with pistols in a tavern bar brawl? Or were playing for stakes in a poker hand? role-playing the outcome of a dart board game? Or engaging in a simple coin toss? Maybe a randomizer would help the highest score win the best out of five. You can also have one person serve as the DM, or third party who does all the rolling to guide the outcome.

The author at [ Errant Dreams ]calls this “using fortune” and writes,

“Chance lends excitement and uncertainty to a game. It helps to keep players on the edge of their seat. It's just like watching a good thriller - if you know what's going to come next, it's much less exciting.

But with everything, just like using any slash command in the game, use in moderation and don’t spam people in public areas.

Have fun everyone!

Music:
All music from the game.

42. Spirit Trees to Character Sheets

2008-07-14T15:36:00.000-07:00

Text for "Off the Beaten Path" from [ Epic Dolls Podcast #42 ]

PLACES TO SEE

MOONGLADE
In some of the newly released screen images of Wrath of the Lich King, I am so excited… we can see a NEW dryad model. Looking closely at another image, we can see the tree spirits…those are trees that are shaped into a specific and recognizable form. In the screenshots of Northrend, we seen that the trees take on a female shape. It is unclear where exactly this Cenarian vale resides, but several theories state that they may exist in spring-like Howling Fjord or perhaps the primordial Sholazar Basin. What we do know, is that wherever these trees exist as with the daughters of Cenarius, his story are not far behind.

These mystical formed trees have been seen before…. in Azeroth. So, if in your travels you would like to see some these special trees prior to the opening of Wrath of the Lich King, you can find one female formed tree at the Shrine of Rumulos in Western Moonglade, Kalimdor. There are two other shapened trees elsewhere, though they are slightly different. They are the bear trees which exist on Teldrassil. One such bear-shapened tree resides in the Oracle Glade, in the north, the happens to be Night Elf bank in Darnassus.

While you are in Moonglade visiting the shrine and seeing the tree spirit, you may want to travel to the south eastern corner and visit the Great Cat spirit. At one time druids were to do a series of quests to obtain their cat form, and this spirit was involved. Eventhough the quest no longer exists, the great cat spirit remains. Sorry hunters, according to PetTopia this cat cannot be tamed. But wouldn’t that rock?

The other unforgettable spot to visit while in Moonglade is the Stormrage Barrow Dens. These are the sacred sleeping quarters for druids who reside in the Emerald Dream. Illidan’s twin brother, the archdruid Malfurion Stormrage’s body was to have rested there, but while he slept his body was moved and hidden by usurpers. This has caused him to be lost and wandering in the dream.

Although there is no known update on Malfurion’s story for the Wrath of the Lich King, there is speculation that SOME small threads of his story will be presented.

INTERESTING QUESTS
SWAMP OF SORROW
To get to the Dark Portal in Blasted lands, you may often pass through the zone called Swamp of Sorrow. It makes sense now that there is a faction of broken Draenei residing there. They had managed to make it through the portal early on during the initial portal cataclysm.

There is a little known quest that takes you to a very unique spot while you are in Swamp of Sorrow.

It is called Cortello’s Riddle. You may have been fiercely battling the Bloodsail pirates off the Southeastern Shore of Stranglthorn, when you discovered a piece of parchment with a riddle inscribed on it. The first part of the riddle/quest leads you to west central, Swamp of Sorrow. There you encounter an ornate well-traveled bridge. Take a moment to look at it, the bridge is beautiful and is one of a kind. Some have said that the architecture of this and other items around the zone are reminiscent of central America or Asia.

Although fewer people travel to the Temple of Atal’Hakkar, its history is rather interesting. It seems that the Gurubashi trolls had built a huge empire and a temple to evil Hakkar, the soulflayer. The green dragon flight would have none of this, and sank the temple into the depths of the swamp. The emerald dragon known as the Shade of Eranikus also resides in the halls of the sunken temple.

Just to bring things full circle, Malfurion Stormrage’s spirit makes an appearance after Eranikus is defeated if you have followed that quest series.

Another interesting fact about Swamp of Sorrow was that it and blasted lands used to be part of an enormous swamp area known as the Black Morass.

ROLE PLAYING TIPS
Making a Character Sheet

Several role playing guilds and groups have returned to using a character sheet as a means to identify your character to yourself and to others. If you have used such mods as FlagRSP or MyRolePlay, then you know that these mods are also a type of character sheet with specific character information that other role-players can read and know. If you have played D&D you may recognize this term as well, although those particular sheets are very in depth.

In terms of role playing, constructing such a character sheet may be very useful as a guide-line to help keep your character, their story, and their motivations consistent. Such a character sheet could be a simple one with the complete name of your character, surname and last name and a brief history of how they came into the world.

However, if you want to extend more thought into your character, you want to make a basic character sheet. Here is a list of items you may what to include (and some of which might end up in one of the role-play mods)

The basics would include:

Full Name including first name, middle, and last name
Title such as Mr, Mrs, Sir, or Lady.
Race, some players are sometimes half human or half dwarven.
Class:
Gender
Faction

Beyond basics you may want to include:

Approximate age –if you are dwarf, night elf, or troll…you may need to read Warcraft’s timeline to get an idea for this.
Professions, this may include ingame professions or something other such as playing an instrument, being a bartender, or a merchant, or owns a winery or a flower shop.
Physical description, this can include such things as scars, freckles, missing eyes, and tattoos that aren’t seen on the current character models.
Combat style and weapon of choice, Maybe your character’s choice of weapons are a broken bottle and a hammer… or only uses a staff…there might be a story why.

You may enjoy thinking through some more in depth information about your character such as:

History, where did your character grow up? How did they get to the city they are in? Who did they train with? And why they are fighting against the remnants of the scourge?
Personality, includes a basic view of how a character may make the decisions they do, because they might be an artist, a buccaneer, a noble, etc.
Alignment, I found that using the D&D information on Alignment to be very useful in getting into the mindset of the character. One of my characters is Chaotic Good….

A quote from D&D states that Chaotic good:

known as the "Rebel" alignment. A chaotic good character favors change for the greater good, disdains bureaucratic organizations that get in the way of social improvement, and places a high value on personal freedom. Most fae are chaotic good.

Knowing the alignment of a character may help you keep consistent with their overall thought process and decision making…i.e. keeping those things “aligned” with what they believe.

41. Elementals and You!

2008-07-14T15:24:00.000-07:00

Text for "Off the Beaten Path" from [Epic Dolls Podcast # 41]

(Iliaana Robinsuun)
Hello everyone, I am Iliaana Robinsuun, bringing you this week’s off the beaten path.

Shamans have a connection to the world around them. All of nature to us is made of the four elements; air, fire, water, and earth. For a shaman, these are not just abstract THINGS, they are living spirits. Elemental spirits aren’t always helpful and friendly. So, I am taking this opportunity to point out where some of the more interesting elementals reside…even the MEAN ones.

Elementals and You – A Shaman’s guide to Sight Seeing
The elementals of air are made of air, wind, and storms. They resemble whirlwinds and often produce an area storm in their wake. They prefer to inhabit high places such as mountaintops or floating land masses. They seek to make changes on the land using their force.

AIR
I have been told that their Lord, one of the old gods Al’Akir the Windlord, his throne resides in Skywall, the elemental plane. He was exiled and imprisoned there during some war with the Titans.. He had a son named Prince Thunderaan who was broken and beaten by the fire Lord Ragnaros. The remains the air prince can be summoned in Silithus during the quest to forge the legendary weapon, Thunderfury.

Another notable air elemental is The Windreaver. He invaded the north western corner of Silithus with his entourage. He is worth defeating and returning him back to the elemental plane. He leaves his treasure behind for you.

A warrior quest given by Bath’rah the Windwatcher in Alterac Mountains (along the river) requires the warrior to summon the third of the notable Air Elementals known as Cyclonian. Warriors can defeat this air elemental for his heart so they can create Whirlwind on their weapons. I suppose that was before shamans like me could offer warriors our windfury totems during battle.

You can see some of the Windlord’s people whirling across such land as in Desolace, Nagrand, Tanaris, and Silithus. I know they prefer mountainous places, but I think they prefer wide open places to roam.

FIRE
The most powerful of the fire elementals is the fire Lord Ragnaros. He is a rutheless blazing fire that wants to inflict his cruelty on the world. He fought against the Titans for dominion over the world and was imprisoned in the elemental plane. The dark iron dwarven battle that ensued deep within the black rock mountain, summoned him from his prison and currently resides in the Molten Core. He can be defeated with preparation and several adventuring parties. Good for them! He’s mean.
The dwarves who tunneled too deep into Blackrock Mountain also unleashed more than just the fire lord, they also found Lord Incendius. He guards the Black Anvil at the center of Black Rock Depths. And before you can even enter the depths of the Dark Iron dwarves, you encounter Overmaster Pyron who patrols the entrance. Those dark iron dwarves really need to stop digging so far!

Another notable and interesting of the Fire Elementals is Blazerunner who inhabits a cave atop Fire Plume Ridge in Un’Goro Crater. He guards an item called the Golden Flame. There is a quest series which leads you to him and provides an item that helps you defeat him. Speak to the gnome named Linken for more details about this ….and obtaining his infamous boomerang.

A Fire Elemental who’s not mean is…Temper who resides In Emberglade on Azuremyst Island among the Draenei. He offers several quests to alliance though he is not hostile to the horde. Good for him.

You can see more of Lord Ragnaoros’ people burning trails in such areas as Stonetalon Mountains, Un’goro crater, Shadowmoon Valley, Felwood, and Searing Gorge.

WATER
The leader of the Water Elementals is Neptulon the Tidehunter and is one of the old gods bound in the elemental plane by the Titans.

One of the notable water elementals who is nice to us is Duke Hydraxis, the leader of the Hydraxian Waterlords. He is located in the southeast side of the bay in Azshara. His quest reveals to us that the pure water elementals, those that have not been tainted, seek to do battle against the other elementals, namely Lord Ragnaros. He opens his quest to both Alliance and Horde.

In Winterspring, Princess Tempestria yells our her challenges to everyone during the Elemental Invasions. She and her minions will drop their treasure when they are defeated and sent back to the elemental plane by worthy adventuring parties. She can be found on the frozen Lake Kel'Theril in central Winterspring.

Deep within Lake Elrendar, Ghostlands is Aquantion. He is a tainted elemental as described by the Waterlords. He can be summoned and vanquished during a guest given to Bloodelves by the ghost Geranis Whitemorn, a who resides on a small island in the lake.

You can see more of Lord Nepulon’s people flowing about such areas as Feralas shores, Skettis, Dire Maul, Wintersping, Eastern Plaguelands, Thoussand Needles and Blackfathom Deeps.

EARTH
The earth elementals are lead by Therazane the Stonemother who is also imprisoned in the Elemental Plane. She is another elemental who is nice and is considered loving and motherly, revered by druids and shamans.

Therazane has a daughter named Princess Theradras who resides deep within caverns and gardens of Mauradon. Hers is a tragic story of her relationship with the first son of Cenarius named Zaetar. Their offspring are the demented centaur roaming around Desolace and other places.

During the horde quests “test of strength” in Thousand Needles, they are to fight against Rok’Alim the Pounder. The quest is offered by Dorn Plainstalker, located in one of the caves north central 1000 needles. It is nice that the Stonemother sent one of her elementals help train adventurers.

The North Eastern corner of Azshara is also home to the elemental invasion lead by a wayward stone elemental named Avalanchion. He shouts out his challenges to anyone strong enough to defeat him. He drops his treasure when he and his minions are sent back to the elemental plane by a strong adventuring party.

In the Abyssal Council, one elemental known as Baron Kazum in Silithus has joined forces with other beings who respresent the elements and are in league with the Twilight Hammer Cult. I don’t think the Stonemother would be very happy with him.

You can see more of Therazane the Stonemother’s people rumbling about such areas as Stonetalon Mountains, Nagrand, Badlands, Alterac Mountains, Tanaris, Burning Steppes, and Silithus.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Written by Stardancer.
Special thanks to Julia, the voice of Iliaana Robinsuun, and to her parents for letting me borrow her so often for these projects.

40. Feralas to Fathers

2008-06-12T09:36:00.000-07:00

Text from "Off the Beaten Path" for the [ Epic Dolls Podcast #40 ]

PLACES TO SEE
After all these years of playing and exploring the World of Warcraft, its pretty amazing to still be surprised to discover something I didn’t see before.

FERALAS
I have recently been playing horde these months, so if you have ever done that…played one faction since the dawn of time then switched, then you know it is like playing a new game. The perspective of the story of the world is refreshingly different. While I was readventuring through zones I had been in so long ago, I found an interesting little getaway in Feralas of all places.

Down in the South Western corner, in the Fayfeather Highlands is a small pond. On the northern side of the pond is a hillside that you can deftly negotiate up. You eventfully make it to a small clearing with a hunter’s lodge complete with a campfire already burning. It’s a neat little get away to cook the fish you got in Wildwind Lake and not be bothered by the nearby animals.

• ZONE: Feralas
• FACTION: Horde or Alliance
• LEVEL: 35-45+

GNOMEREGAN
Gnomeregan was the capital city of the gnomes until an invasion of those trogg-men led to its destruction. While fewer people are venturing forth into Gnomeregan, I did find something out that may be of interest to you. One of the quests requires you to obtain colored punch cards for various levels of the instance. When you click on the punch card to read it, it is entirely marked with ones and zeroes. It turns out that these actually say something, for example the yellow punch card reads, “If you can read this, you are standing too close.” The red card reads, “Help! I am trapped in a binary punch card factory!” Thanks to www.eeggs.com for this information, who also let us know that one can translate these screen shots with a binary code translator.

Horde are able to venture into Gnomeregan by completing the transporter quest in BootyBay with Chief Engineer Scooty

• ZONE: Gnomeregan
• FACTION: Horde or Alliance
• BINARY INFORMATION:
• LEVEL: 25-35
• Horde Transporter quest

SHIMMERING FLATS MIRAGE RACEWAY
This is a place that everyone needs to visit at least once, if not more just for the fun of it. Out in the sparse lands north of Tanaris and east of Thousand Needles, is of all things a race way where goblins and gnomes vie for who’s rocket launcher vehicle racer is faster. While you are there, don’t forget to pick up an strawberry ice cream cone from Brivelthwerp. And give a “cluck” to “Plucky Johnson” a chicken wandering about near Daisy, the race starter girl. There’s something peculiar about that chicken. You can also purchase an ancona chicken from Magus Tirth. The area is available to horde or alliance

• ZONE: Shimmering Flats
• LEVEL: 31+
• FACTION: Alliance or Horde

NOTABLE FATHERS
Sunday was father’s day, and I thought I would make a celebration by giving a few interesting quests which involve fathers.

In previous segments, I have spoke about Tirion Fordring who’s quest series results in locating his son …heart wrenching. You can currently locate him by a small cabin near the southwestern end of the Terrorweb Tunnel in Eastern Plaguelands. There is some updated news with regard to Tirion Fording when Wrath of the Lich King comes out. It appears that he will be moved to Valgarde and given a promotion in the Silver Hand --Tirion Fordring

We already know of the tragic end of the devout and benevolent ruler, Terenas Menethil II, who was killed by the hands of his mad son Prince Arthas. We will probably be seeing and reading more to this story when Wrath of the Lich King comes out.

A rather dismal quest brought about with the new race of Draenei involves Cowlen, the fisherman located at the southeast docks of Silvermyst Island off the coast of Azuremyst. He lost his entire family when a shard from the crashing Exodar plumented through his house, and the power leaking from the shard is driving all the moonkin mad.

A quest in Plaguelands entitled Pamela’s Doll, and starts with the ghost of Pamela Redpath. Her father Joseph Redpath was killed during the battle of Darrowshire and who’s corrupt spirit spawns during the recreation of the battle. --Jospeh Redpath

In Desolace, there is a quest called Vahlarriel’s Search. Vahlarriel has come to the area on behalf of the father of the House Malem. His children Tyranis and Dalinda are missing and is asking for your help in discovering where they might be. --Vahlarriel’s Search

Just so we don’t think every father-quest ends in tragedy there is always this one…

Torkus the two headed ogre in Ogrila Blade’s Edge Mountains, Outlands, invites you to do a quest to help prepare his sons to live their dreams of being pilots with the Skyguard. I love this NPC…with two heads he speaks in plural.

Have fun everyone!
Music:
All music from the game.

It's sort of like Westfall

2008-05-30T09:30:00.000-07:00

This week's "Off the Beaten Path" was narrated by NPC Verna Furlbrow, Westfall... (just for fun)

Howdy everyone! You might have reckoned already, but Stardancer is taking a sit-down yonder and will be back later. I’m Verna Furlbrow and I’m an NPC that stands along the road in the great farmlands of Westfall. You might have heard of me and my horse Blanchy. Afore I was an NPC, I traveled the world over. Being from the country, I thought I would share with y’all ---all the country places.

PLACES TO SEE

WESTFALL
Believe you me, if Westfall isn’t the best farming country there is! Westfall has tons of farms and hospitality and just a crow flies distance from Stormwind. Why, if it wasn’t for those rampant harvesters and thieving defias, Westfall would be like a hog-killin time in paradise!

While ya’ll are visitin’ Westfall, don’t forget to stop by the lighthouse off the southern west coast! Captain Grayson down there needs some help. Oh, and kin you stop by Theodore and myself and help us out? You can find us standing along side the road as you exit Elwynn Forest.

If yer looking for something slightly different, y’all kin dive into the ocean in the south of Westfall and swim around the coast and head east…darn if you don’t just end up in Stranglethorn vale right by two huge doors which lead into cavern system! I’m here to tell you that those doors answer the question, “How did Vancleef get his ship inside that cavern?”

BLADE’S EDGE MOUNTAINS
Though its like going around an elbow to get your thumb, there’s nothing like visiting the windy searing edges of Blade’s Edge Mountains, Outlands. The Alliance have the option of vacationing in the remnants of the green plush locales of Sylvanaar or Ruuan Weald. The Horde also have nice greenery as in Thunderlord Stronghold and Mok'Nathal Village. An interestin’ fact is about [ Mok’Nathal Village ] is home to the father of infamous half-ogre named Rexxar. Y’all might have met him, he wanders the roads of Desolace with his bear, Misha.

But probably one of the most famous sights of Blade’s edge Mountains are all the bodies of the black dragon flight which are still impaled on the sharp rocky spikes. The father and leader of the gronn, named [ Gruul ], is responsible for dispatching Deathwing’s offspring.

Blade’s Edge Mountains, its sort of like Westfall only with Mountains, Gronn, and dead dragons everywhere.

Looking Toward Wrath of the Lich King
Shoot my hillbilly! But Y’all are gonna have to come visit me in the far western edge of Northrend some day! I hope I can convince the NPC gods to move me [ Borean Tundra ]. For us country folk, there’s nothing like a large sprawlin’ land of fields as far as the eye can see.

Its sort of like Westfall only in Winter and with walking talking [ walruses ].

written by Stardancer

38. A Rogue's Gallery

2008-05-23T11:52:00.000-07:00

Text for the Stardancer's "Off the Beaten Path" Audio segment [ Epic Dolls #38 ]

(This week's Off the Beaten Path was narrated by Laurano Rivind, who brought a more humorous and roguish perspective...)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi everyone! Stardancer is “Off the Path” again probably chasing after some herb or lost in thought in some beautiful forest. However, I am Laurano Rivind and this week I will be bringing you the “Off the Beaten Path”.

I am a rogue and thought I would bring you all the roguish places to see. Muwaahaaa.

PLACES TO SEE

STORMWIND
Ah, the bustling city of Stormwind …Home of the humans (and me) and mecca for trade and gatherings. But, you should be careful when walking by the buildings along the street south outside of the Dwarven district along the water front. There is one building with an interesting secret…it only looks like a regular shop but has entrance to a hidden alley way.

RAVENHOLDT
Hidden away in the hills of Hillsbrad foothill is the town of Ravenholdt Manor. Ravenholdt is a guild of thieves and assassins and we only welcome only those of extraordinary prowess into its fold. You would think that hiding the manor up the plateau slightly northwest of Durnholde Keep would keep those without our particular skills out.
I have always been telling my colleagues there we should have a secret handshake and speak in thieves cant or NO ONE gets in!

Unfortunately, anyone who raises their reputation from Neutral to Friendly, by doing the repeatable quest Syndicate Emblems can get an honorary pass to explore our grounds. Hrrumph!

ZONE: [ Ravenholdt Manor ]
FACTION: Alliance and Horde

UNDERCITY
There is nothing like sneaking into Undercity through the bat tunnel sewers located outside in Tirisfal Glade. I consider this the “Rogues Gate”. Convenient for invasions, don’t you think?

Zone: [ Undercity ]
Faction: Horde

Looking Toward [ Wrath of the Lich King ]

I am not a rogue, but I play one on TV.

Seriously though, my main character and my favorite class is the Rogue. The Outlands zone didn’t really provide people with our particular talents many hideaways other than tunnels in Blade’s Edge and those were full of spiders. But I am looking forward to [ Northrend ]. I can already see several spots that have questionable security. Just my kind of places. Although, battling [ Death Knights ] and their minions might make my job harder. But we shall see. The bay in the southeastern corner of Northrend is called [ Daggercap Bay ]. Honestly, a rogue couldn’t name that place better. I guess I might have to make a home away from home out there in Valgarde. Be sure to watch your satchels there because I sure will be watching yours! hehehe

Role Playing Tips
PLAYING A ROGUE

Illidarian brought up [ Garona Halforcen ] in one of her lore segments. This half-orc is probably one of the most famous or our ilk, an assassin hired to kill King Llane. Some people prefer to play their rogue as assassins, or shadowy corner brooders, or simply thieves stealing from city dwellers. But as illustrated by Garona, a rogue can be political secret ops, with a purpose of gaining information and helping turn the tide in a war.

If you choose to play a rogue, consider the following:

Do you belong to any organizations, or are you a freelancer? If so, what? And Why?
Is your rogue a hero,?
Broody? Or humorous?
Why would the race you pick for a rogue have a penchant for thievery or assassination?

SCOUTS
A rogue isn’t known for their brawn, like a warrior. They prefer their agility and guile which can benefit a wide array of story lines. The word rogue implies thievery, but there are skills that can be more suited to information gathering, picking targets, searching areas, and so forth. Your rogue can be a scout for a party, who is trained in melding with the nooks and crannies in a dungeon to give an adventuring party valuable information of what’s ahead.

LOCK and TRAPS SPECIALISTS
Their deftness and talent with small tools and picks allows them to open locked doors, gates, and treasure boxes among other things. An adventuring party is lost without such skills. The rogue is stealthy and dextrous, and the only class capable of finding and disarming many traps and picking locks. Perhaps your rogue took up blacksmithing/engineering and the cover story is that they are a locksmith?

APOTHECARY
Since rogues deal with poisons and use various questionable herbs in their combats, making your rogue an apothecary and alchemist would make a great cover story.

ITEMS ACQUISITION
Need something you can get on your own, perhaps you need someone who has no trouble sneaking about and obtaining necessary items… well, most people call that pick-pocketing. I prefer to call that “items acquisition”. Perhaps the cover story for your rogue is that they are a quartermaster.

ASSASSINS
It is kind of trite to play a hired assassin. Usually, if you are you wouldn’t overtly advertise and no one would really know for sure. The rogue also has the ability to "sneak attack" ("backstab") enemies who are caught off-guard or taken by surprise, inflicting extra damage. Perhaps the cover story for your rogue is that they are a politician.

IN CLOSING
There are lots of ways to work the class. Rogues make great detectives, archaeologists, scouts, spies, pirates lock specialists, assassins, and more. Your rogue can obtain a rapier and get a name for themselves as a Blademaster, Duelist, or just some highwayman like Robin Hood. If you want a more bad-guy feel, be sure to be as aggressive as any warrior and get a club (the plank of wood with a nail in it or even that 10lb FISH) and start a bar-room brawl. Oh yeah, while everyone else is fighting, the rogue takes the bottle and sneaks out the back. Hehe.

Have fun everyone!

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Written by Stardancer
Special thanks to Marie, who is the voice of Laurano Rivind.

18. Shrines, Monnorath's Spear, and Tongs

2008-05-23T11:39:00.000-07:00

Text for the Stardancer's "Off the Beaten Path" Audio segment [ Epic Dolls #37 ]

PLACES TO SEE

ASHENVALE
In my opinion, probably one of the more picturesque and beautiful zones in the Azeroth world is Ashenvale. The ethereal use of colors and the prehistoric tree line makes the whole zone very mystical. You probably knew this, but the Ashenvale’s design inspiration comes from a real place…the [ Sequoia National Forest ] located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. So, to extend the Off the Beaten Path to the real world, the Sequoias are worth visiting at least once in your life time.

Ashenvale is worth visiting while in Azeroth…and here’s some places to see while you are there.

Shrine of Aessina
This area has changed slightly for Alliance. In Western Ashenvale, West and slightly North of the Shrine of Aessina, there are two families who reside in what used to be an abandoned House …the night elves, Edunes, and the humans Dundaire. Of Particular interest to me was Elenna Edunne, the huntress who wanders about with her tallstrider pet named Goodie. Yay for tallstriders.

While you are in this area, farther south of the Edune House and west (way behind the Shrine of Aessina) is a hunter camp outpost with a hunter and pet trainer as well as a leatherworking supplier, Harlown Darkweave. The supplier sells the pattern for the Herbalist gloves. Sorry, this is Alliance only and Horde need to be careful of the wandering Forest Protector.

ZONE: Ashenvale
FACTION: Alliance
[ Edunes]
[ Harlown Darkweave ]

DEMON FALL CANYON
What isn’t just for Horde anymore is the in the southern most area of Ashenvale, south of the road between Warsong Lumber Camps and Splintertree post, it’s Felfire Hill. There are two rather fascinating things to see here. On the left path once you have entered the Hill, is the named demon Gorgannon who circles the giant floating Mannorath’s broken spear.

Also in Felfire Hill is a monument with an inscription written by Thrall, who dedicates the structure to Grommash Hellscream, Chieftan of the Warsong Clan.nt.

ZONE: Ashenvale
FACTION: Horde or Alliance
WARCRAFT 3: [Fall of Hellscream on Youtube]

QUESTS

SCYTHE OF ELUNE
I received an email that asked me to mention the fascinating quest, The Scythe of Elune.

This is a rather long quest chain that requires you to travel all over. Unfortunately, this quest is for Alliance only, but the story is really fascinating and explains how and why there are the Worgen (wolf-men) in the world. The quest begins with Sentinel Melyria Frostshadow, at Forest Song in Ashenvale. I really don’t want to give much away about this entire quest as the story is rather involved.

FACTION: Alliance
ZONE: Ashenvale
QUEST: [ Scythe of Elune ]
Level: 30

Role Playing Tips
LORE

I usually use the lore as a basic understanding of the world and structure of the society for the world. As I never played any of the prior Warcraft games, War of the Ancient books, the lore synopsis at the main WoW site, and information such as what Illidarian presents are invaluable in gaining an understanding of the history and story of Warcraft. This is especially true if you enjoy role-playing.

However, players and role-players alike come to MMOs to have a good time and be creative. So, I think it is important to have fun and not get stressed out about not knowing enough lore. Don’t let that interfere with creating or enjoying your character in role-play. You can always amend your character’s history the more you learn through the quests and lore segments.

Even Blizzard bends its own world’s lore from time to time to fit the new things they add to the game. If a character can create a gnomish battle chicken then maybe there is some room to bend the lore slightly to make the role-playing experience more fun.

In my character Stardancer’s (alliance side) story, I wanted her history to fit more into my own mystical interests. I expanded her history to include little known information about the dryads, the children of Cenarius. Since they had the torso of night elves, I merged this information to include the possibility that night elves could become dryads or evolve into them to become additions to Cenarius’ children. In Star’s story, her mother performed a selfless act during the war and would have died. However, she was granted rebirth as a forest sister and lived as one of the caretaker dryads in Stonetalon Peak. To me, this made a reason for Star to travel to Stonetalon often to visit her mother there. As the many hundreds of years passed, her mother’s memory of her slowly faded and she became increasingly attuned to her new role as a caretaker…a dryad.

I am of the opinion that certain aspects of the world can be receptive to your interpretation and in some instances this interpretation can encompass a guild theme. On [ Epic Dolls number 35 ], Leala talked about a guild named the Dread Pirates. They reminded me of a role-playing guild on ER called “Grey Tiger Tong” lead by TaiJing and Kennia. This guild has a cross faction emphasis. This means there is an continuation of the guild on the Horde side as a part of the same guild. I don’t think I could better describe this guild than he does…

Taijing writes,

“In the back alleys, darkened corners of taverns, the back offices of public officials, even the inner sanctums of the church, some say that the Grey Tiger Tong is more than meets the eye. To the casual observer, the Tong is simply a merchants' civic organization dedicated to improving their communities through successful local businesses, such as the Gray Tiger Shipping & Freight Company in Stormwind and the Savage Coast Fishmonger Company in Booty Bay.

There are, however, whispers that the Tong conceals a vast, shadowy business syndicate that deals in smuggled goods, protection rackets, gambling, loan sharking, even hired hits. Cynics are sure that a large part of their success in the business world is due to their willingness to use graft, extortion, blackmail, and force, even brutal force ...”

That’s the description of the guild. However, in their further comments we are reminded that the guild theme of the Tong though mysterious is neutral in nature and not evil.

Such a great idea!

Learn more about [ Gray Tiger Tong ]

17. Faerie Rings, Turtle Soup, and Props...

2008-05-02T22:51:00.000-07:00

Text for the Stardancer's "Off the Beaten Path" Audio segment [ Epic Dolls #35 ]

PLACES TO SEE

In my sightseeing travels around the landscape of Warcraft, I am amazed at the array of natural formations in and around the topography that you can find.

ZANGARMARSH
I love Zangarmarsh, Outlands with its fanciful Alice and Wonderland feel due all the giant mushrooms! The purply blue color makes this zone appeal to my mystical and whimsical side. When traveling through the zone, I sometimes expect a faerie to suddenly fly about. Speaking of faeries, there is a unique spot, a faerie ring. Amidst all the massive shrooms, its almost out of place to see an obvious clearing with a ring of miniature dark purple mushrooms. I imagine a gathering of night elves at this spot awaiting luminescent little fae to swirl and dance about with. What a neat little magical spot.

You can locate this ring on the southern side of Zangarmarsh, due west of Feralfen Village but east of Quagg Ridge.

While you are in Zangermarsh, there is what I jokingly call “the one ring”. If you travel just north of Umbrafen Village and locate the tallest Mushroom, you will see another unique site…a glowing swirling ring floating around the underside of the cap. While I can’t verify a purpose for this natural phenomenon, it is interesting…and there is one other Mushroom which has this. Perhaps you can find the other and let us know where?

NETHERSTORM
I have spoken about Netherstorm, outlands in the past from the bio spheres to sunken ships, but this one is humorous and is something you can do while passing through the area. On the northern side of Manaforge Ara, are the broken shards of land floating in the nether. If you look closely at the largest one (and from the right angle) it looks like a disembodied turtle head, complete with nostrils, eyes, and scales. In fact you can fly all around the western side and locate a few of these turtle heads. We have renamed endearingly renamed the spot Turtle Soup.

If you have seen some interesting formations in your travels, drop us a note at the epic dolls forums.

Zone: Netherstorm, Outlands
Level: 70
Faction: Any

QUESTS

The Stardancer Quest
(Official Name: The Giant Guardian)

My RP guild affectionately renamed this quest The Stardancer Quest due to the wandering nature of Stardancer. An often repeated question resounding in our guildchat was, “Where’s Star?” Just a disclaimer here, I was usually going after herbs and this was before you could resounding beacon point on your minimap. Getting back to topic… Perhaps you know someone who wanders off, or you have children, a cousin, or other…this humorous quest is for you.

Alliance characters while in Feralas can speak with the Giant Guardian (stone elemental) located south of the Colassals and the harpy area. He asks locate his charge, a young night elf named Shay Leafrunner. The young elf is located in a gazebo by the harpies and she gives you a bell and asks you to escort her back to her guardian. She is truly grateful but there is a catch, just like all escorts. She says she gets distracted by the flora and fauna and will wander off if you aren’t watching for her. All you do is ring the bell to get her attention and she will continue to follow you back to the stone giant.

[Information link]:
ZONE: Feralas
Zone Level: 49
FACTION: Alliance
LOCATION: In Feralas Forest near the Harpy and stone guardian area.

Role Playing Tips
Getting into the swing of things

Most Role-Players can be found inside of taverns in a major city. If you are new or have a new character you may not be sure how to start engaging others in role-play. If they don’t know you either, they may be equally shy to start up a role-play. How about showing your style of role-play and introducing your character without actually having to say “hi my name is” or disturbing others who may currently be involved in a conversation.

Here’s how:
Be sure to look around the tavern’s environment, there is usually bookcases, tables with goblets and tankards on them, chairs, stairs, and even paintings on the wall. I use these as “props.” Props allow a player to emote with the prop in a way that others can take notice of your character, style of description, writing style, and sometimes humor.

For example, you can emote your character walking into the tavern and stopping to peruse the books on the bookcase near the stairs. You character can slide a fingertip lightly across the titles of the book, and possibly locate one with a purple binding. Your character can lift their eyebrows in confusion as they read the title, “The Horde in a Nutshell.” Your character shrugs with a slight snicker. Your character glances over the titles again and decidedly withdraws another book with an amber binding entitled, “Collected Sonnets of the Bronze Flight.” Your character gazes about the room and locates an empty seat. While you order a drink and sip the mead gingerly, you can emote flipping through the pages and nodding to interesting passages in the book.

You can make up a title of a book that would be of interest to your character, race, or class. You can also take a look at the artwork on the wall, or always choose a goblet made of purple glass as you order white wine from the bar. Perhaps your character always drinks milk and sits in a chair that faces the door so as never to have any sneak up on them.

These and other uses of the “props” in a room when emoting, can help give characterization to your character and introduce you as a role-player without ever having to actually “say” a word.

Have fun everyone!

Music:
All music from the game.

16. Scenic Overlooks, Rousch, and Accents...

2008-05-02T22:42:00.000-07:00

Text for the Stardancer's "Off the Beaten Path" Audio segment [ Epic Dolls #34 ]

PLACES TO SEE

It is a little more than disconcerting when you go about your week only to come home and find out that your internet service is out and for two days! As a sort of personal rule I revisit all the places I talk about with alliance (and horde characters when I can). Unfortunately, I didn’t have as much time to explore and reexplore. I am going back to some places in my original submissions prior to doing the audio segments. I hope that you will find the following places as beautiful and interesting as I did when first exploring them.

HIDDEN SCENIC OVERLOOK

In stranglethorn vale, animals hidden and otherwise are around every corner. It’s a bit of a jungle out there. (haha). But seriously, there are two areas that are worth seeing. Around the Coast north of Booty Bay, past the Naga Explorers, heading just a little farther north slightly past the water falls and two bridges (basically the small hills on your map which are located SW of Gurubashi Arena), you come to two torches and a path. The path which winds upwards makes you think you will encounter some sort of foul beast at the top. However, there’s nothing, just a look out and is surprisingly pleasant spot which overlooks the coast. I really love Blizzard for putting things in the game for no other reason than to find it and enjoy it.

ZONE: [Stranglethorn]
Zone Level: 43
FACTION: Alliance and/or Horde
LOCATION: (Coordinates 29/57)

HIDDEN GNOME ENGINEERING OUTPOST
While you are in stranglethorn, if you are alliance you can visit The Blunderflames gnome outpost is located slightly NE of the Ruins of Zul’Mamwe, South of Mosh’Ogg Ogre Mound. There is an incline east of the Jungle Thunderers (Gorillas) but is not an actual path. You can negotiate up to the area then travel north on the ridge to an opening where there is a gnome hut. It is slightly complicated to get to, but worth it if you are an engineer.

ZONE: Stranglethorn
[The Blunderflames]
FACTION: Alliance.
LEVEL: 43
LOCATION: (51, 36 coordinates)

Recipes:

Mechanical Dragonling (200)
Deadly Scope (210)

ROUSCH THE DWARF
While you are taking a break from Outlands and revisiting Azeroth’s scenic paths, you might find this interesting. In Hillsbrad Foothills, Near the dwarf town of Dun Garok (a horde quest/farming area) there is an NPC dwarf named “Rousch” kneeling next to a monument. This moment is dedicated to a real-life friend one of the game’s developers, Anthony Ray Stark (b. 1961- d.2005).

ZONE: Hillsbrad Foothills
[ Rouch the Dwarf ]
FACTION: Alliance or Horde
Zone Level: 35+

QUESTS

KEY TO SEARING GORGE -QUEST
If you are Alliance, you might find these next two quests entertaining…

Before there was a Thorium Point flight path…the way to Searing Gorge was treacherous and long….but the Alliance were afforded an option. The Alliance could obtain a key that would open the gate between Searing Gorge and Loch Modan allowing them to ride straight through from one zone to the other. The quest still available to do and is started by obtaining a broken horn from a gnarly old Thunder Lizard named Margol the Rager. He lurks in the hills near the Tanner Camp.

The key doesn’t hold the same sort of value for passage anymore, but the quest affords great experience for those seeking it with Ironforge…and why NOT? Oh yeah, wait till you turn the horn into the dwarf guard by the gate… she’s a little snippy, so watch out. Its fun little quest and there’s nothing like taking a sightseeing group straight through the gates…because you can.

Quest: [ Key to Searing Gorge]
Started by: [ Horn of the Beast Quest ]
See Also: [ Curator Thorius, Ironforge ]
Zone: Searing Gorge, Azeroth
Zone Level: 48
Faction: Alliance

Role Playing Tips
ACCENTS
When roll playing your character, typing out an accent for your character isn’t required, but it does make the character stand out. If you are interested in playing or adding an accent to your character, you can generally get a clue of what this would mean for you by listening to the pre-recorded NPC voices for your race. Generally, RPers use text to RP. Its just hard to RP a female in TS if you are a male. I think you get my point.

Here are some examples:

Trolls tend to have a south Island or Jamaican accent or Calypso from Pirates of the Carribean.
Stay away from da voodoo.
Dwarve tend to be Scottish
O’ course they’re real! Thanks fer noticin’.
Draenei tend to be Egyptian or as my friends say Romanian Gypsies. Unfortunately, this accent isn’t as possible when RPing in text. Ooof! My hoof! Does this crack look infected to you?

TYPES OF RP

There are several different types Role Play. This isn’t an exhaustive list, but are generally what you will find.

Open RP -- is where you are free to join these on-going stories so long as you don't 'God-mode' and you join in a logical fashion. God-mode is term used to explain using using an ominpresent RP style, such as “I kill you with my sword.” According to RP, you can only be responsible for your actions and out come, so a better way to say it, “Jet removes her stealy rapier from her belt and attempts to stab Sir John while fighting over land disputes.” Open RP is for the most part, anything goes. It’s the type of RP that transpires randomly just like meeting people at a party and how topics can range all over the place.
Structured RP – Original or core group has a specific story they wish to pan out or portray. They have a story to tell and try to steer things in the direction they want. If you are uncomfortable with someone else taking mild control of your character or story do not join these.
Story -- This is where you can relate events or adventures in a story-like manner. Several RP groups have story and poetry nights. You can view an RP server’s calendar of events by visiting their respective forums. Events usually are sticked.

Thanks to the WoW Role Forums for these and other helpful Role Play tips.

Have fun everyone!

15. Tallstriders, Extreme Sports, Chimerocks

2008-04-19T18:52:00.000-07:00

Text for the Stardancer's "Off the Beaten Path" Audio segment [ Epic Dolls #33 ]

PLACES TO SEE

MANDALAY
Druids working on their Epic Flight form are aware of these unique Outlands creatures. If you are in Terrokar forest, head south of Achidoun to the crumbled floating masses of land passed the spiders. The largest island is home to only level 70 Tallstriders around, and they are bright purple. Maybe you are a hunter looking for something a little more tanky and different? As far as tallstriders are concerned, the highest leveled one you could obtain prior to outlands was the level 20 …the rare one in Darkshore called the Clutchmother. That’s a huge 50 level gap between them. My hunter already has a tallstrider, but I also have a purple one for…I don’t know maybe parades?
(Called this paragraph Mandalay. All my huntress' pets are named after Las Vegas Hotels.)

The Short Way Down
If you haven’t had the chance to visit Feralas or the twin Colassals, whether Horde or Alliance, this is something to see and do. You can talk to the Nightelf Marli Wishrunner at the bottom of the Western Colossal who speaks to both Alliance and Horde. She invites you to take a portal to the top of the Eastern Colossal…which is a one way trip. One way trip, You ask? If you don’t have feather fall (be sure you have the feathers) or an engineered chute, it would be a good idea to make sure you have at least 20 silver on you. At the top, there is another NPC that will sell you ONE parachute.

I recommend jumping off the southeastern side near the waterfall and opening the chute as late as possible, and aiming your character into the lake below. This is just plain fun. Bombing runs and extreme parachuting sports! Gotta love Warcraft.

ZONE: FERALAS
NPC: [[ Marli Wishrunner ]]
LEVEL: 40+
FACTION: Alliance or Horde

LORD LAKMEARON
While you are in the Feralas area, how about stopping by the Island of Dread just south of Feathermoon Stronghold? Horde or Alliance, you can skip the Alliance Feathermoon and head straight for the other. Horde or Alliance you can currently hop the boat, and jump off when you get close to the Island.

I always imagine a sort of RP expedition to the Island, with camping along the shore, fishing and telling stories of adventures… then taking the party through the half hidden trail on the southeastern side into the realm of the elite chimeroks. The named Lord Lakmaeron, leader of the Chimerok’s is an interesting to see. He is part of the Sceptre of the Shifting Sands quest line, but is a neat little rp sightseeing excursion.

ZONE: Feathermoon Strongold
CREATURE: [[ Lord Lakmaeran ]]
LEVEL: 62 Elite requiring 7-10 people to slay
FACTION: Alliance or Horde
QUEST: [[ Sceptre of the Shifting Sands ]]

Here’s An Interesting Game History Note…
Originally, Blackfathom Deeps original entrance was located in Darkshore in the Ruins of Mathystra. The stairs and architecture is still there, and makes a perfect little private spot for fishing or a picnic. I keep wondering if because this was the original entrance of the instance if perhaps that was the reason for the Dancing troll village, a place for Horde to fly into?

Role Playing Tips
Whether you rolled your characters on an RP server or not, all of us logging into the World of Warcraft actually Role-play to some degree. The character you see before you on your computer screen is an avatar. Sometimes having an avatar, you can be bolder, run to the stop of a hill and jump off, and show of “your armor” to all your friends and guild-mates.

In an [[ article at Warcry ]], Jim Moreno suggested that Raiding and Instance running can be Role-played through. I can hear you gasping now.

He writes,

“I've read comments from many roleplayers, that the greatest reason they don't RP in instances is because there's just too much going on at once. What with combat, concentrating on playing your class and skills to the best of your ability, and trying not to wipe, there's just no time and place to fit RP in.”

I have to admit that at one time I instanced with a role-playing group who walked (using the walk command) through an entire instance. Not sure that was the safest way to succeed in an instance. But you think of it in terms of one of those good old D&D game… sneak, stop, scout ahead, peek, plan attack, etc. It might be kind of fun. A group that I raid with, actually runs entire Karazhan raids with only using the game’s interface, no team speak or mods (well, except maybe Omen for healers and tanks).. It sure is a way to really test your gaming moxy. It CAN be done, and done quite well.

Moreno also writes:

“I've also come to know that roleplayers are often looking for out-of-the-way locales for RP events, where they can gather with fellow roleplayers away from horrid gold spammers and other players who don't know how rude and obnoxious it is to /yell across the entire zone on an RP server. Well, the way instances are designed, you'll not find a more remote area in game. Just think: it's you and a few of your closest roleplaying friends, and some really bad guys. That's it! Pick your favorite communication channel(s) without fear of other players stepping on your comments. Even chatting with your friends becomes easier and more fluid, and affords the use of /say chat without it being visible to some jerk who decides to come over do their best to ruin your attempt at a fun time. These are but a couple of reasons why the closed environment of an instance can be prime places for your RP.”

Have fun everyone!

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Music used in the audio segment:
All music from the game.