Farewell 2011

My mogging set is slightly eye-watering

Wow, where did December go?!

I haven't had a whole lot of time to play or write lately, partly due to the general busy-ness of the Christmas season and partly because, in Rioriel style, I was kidnapped by Skyrim for a little while. You know how it is.

I managed to completely miss my two-year blogaversary back on the 21st of December! In the tradition of these things, I'd better take a look back at this year.

The Past
2011 saw quite a few changes to the way I play, starting in March when my Sproutling was born. I guild-hopped a little bit and found another casual home in Vitare, did a little (very casual) raiding and have done a fair bit of questing towards Loremaster. I had some fun with the Ironman challenge and the Lillis too. In short, it has been a little-bit-of-everything year, which leaves me slightly frustrated because it means I haven't really completed anything. There's still plenty to do!

I've had more visitors this year than the previous year, despite writing less posts and hosting fewer events. My Resto and Balance pre-raid gear guides remain the most visited pages, followed by my leather gear for Transmogrification posts. I hope people found them useful.

I had a lovely time chatting on the Twisted Nether Blogcast in November. I was so flattered to be invited!

One thing I really enjoyed putting together this year was IntPiPoMo. I do intend to add some of the images to my Gallery page, but you can see all the posts using the IntPiPoMo tag. That was a lot of fun, and encouraged me to think about where to take the extra screenshots I needed to make 50.  Thanks so much to all the participants - I really wasn't expecting so many to join in, and I hope it continues in some form next year!

The Future
What will 2012 bring? Well to start with, I'm going back to work in January. This will drastically reduce my free time, which I expect will be filled up with sleep after work, food and time with Sprout and Mr Ang are taken care of.

In addition to this, my old Disciples of Sneer guildies have started playing Star Wars: The Old Republic and I'm going to join them when I can for a month or two at least. It's the first time I've switched to a different MMO since I started playing WoW and it feels a little like cheating, but it will be nice to catch up with my guildies and play a new game for a little while at least.

Mostly for these reasons, things will probably be a lot more quiet around here than they have been.

I'll still be around on Twitter @_Angelya and you are most welcome to email me if you like!

Thank you so much to everyone who has read, linked and supported R&R! I've really appreciated it over the last two years. If I've made you smile, or helped you with some information, my work here is done :)

I'd like to wish you all a very Happy and Safe New Year. Ta-ta for now!

Happy Winter Veil 2011

I'd like to wish you all and your families a very happy and safe Winter Veil! May it be filled with joy and peace.

<3 Ang

Furtive Father Winter: Is Great Father Winter Real?

As Winter Veil approaches, the Blog Azeroth community has once again come together for the yearly exchange of posts. This year, the exchange is known as Furtive Father Winter and was organised by Akabeko of Red Cow Rise. 

I was delighted to find my present in my inbox this morning - from Beruthiel of Falling Leaves and Wings. Thanks so much, Beru! Happy Winter Veil to you!

~o~

One year as Winter Veil approached, Angelya was at home working on mulling her sparkling apple cider when her Sproutling approached her and said “Momma, some of my friends say there is no Great Father Winter”. Angelya thought on this for a minute, and encouraged her Sproutling to ask The Azerothian Sun if it was true, “because if it’s in the Sun, it’s so”, she told the Sproutling.

And so the sproutling sat down, and wrote to the Sun:



Well, as it turns out, that Sunday – on page seven of The Azerothian Sun – they answered the all important question: Is there a Great Father Winter?

(Author’s Note – The “Yes, Virginia” editorial dating back to 1897 has always been fascinating to me for many reasons, but most of all because of what it says. This year has been rough on me personally, and reading through this again in drafting this post, has given me the reminder that believing in the fantastical and impossible is not a bad thing and is what gives us heart and hope. While I did modify the text of the editorial slightly from the original to fit into the Azeroth world, the majority of the text remains the same, as does the integrity of the message the editorial writer was sending. As such, I would like to give credit to the original author of the editorial, Francis P. Church. As the story has been retold many times over the years, I did not think he’d mind my borrowing it one more time to share the message with Angelya and her Sproutling on this holiday season).

IntPiPoMo: End Time

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Murozond looks over the Bronze Dragonshrine at the End Time.

And with that, my 50 pictures are done.  I hope you enjoyed IntPiPoMo as much as I did!

I'd like to say a big thank you to all the people who joined in - I didn't expect so many to get on board and post such amazing pictures! I recommend you go and check out all of these blogs and their IntPiPoMo contributions.

• Postcards from Azeroth
• The Daily Frostwolf
• Harpy's Nest
• Dwarven Battle Medic (WoW and real-world)
• The Ready Check
• Achievements Ahoy
• Wabbage's Warblings (Rift)
• World of Saz
• Bag Overflow
• ALT : ernative
• Elfi's World
• Red Cow Rise
• Zlinket @ Wowsanctum.com
• Syrco Owl
• Amerence Love Wow
• The WOW Debutante
• Gamer Girl Confessions
• Effraeti's RP
• Da Voodoo Shuffle
• Chronicles of Mia
• The Reluctant Raider
• Moonkin Journeys

Here's a bonus Sproutling pic to say thanks!

And now, I'm going on holiday :)

IntPiPoMo: Sillies

This post is part of IntPiPoMo.

Shaman bring the mobile disco.

I've posted the Spiderpig before, but I love it, so there.

Halp!  I'm trapped in here with this skeleton!

IntPiPoMo: Cities

This post is part of IntPiPoMo.

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Shattrath, the City of Light.

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The moon over Stormwind Cathedral.

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The throne room in the ruins of Lordaeron. Creepy place.

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The Great Forge, Ironforge.

IntPiPoMo: Postcards from the North

This post is part of IntPiPoMo.

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The Wrathgate, before the battle began. 

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The Scourge stronghold of Naxxanar in the east of the Borean Tundra.

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The Turtle boats of the Tuskarr ply their trade all along the south coast of Northrend. I wonder where they get all their carrots from.

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When the Amberpine Lodge outhouse is a-rockin', don't come a-knockin'!

IntPiPoMo: Peaceful Forest

This post is part of IntPiPoMo.

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It's hard to believe that Ashenvale was such a peaceful place, with the turf war currently going on there.

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Twisting the Nethers

The Twisted Nether Blogcast records live on Saturdays at 8pm PT, and this Saturday, I'm going to be the guest! Please, drop by the live chatroom to say hi!

That's 8pm PT, 2pm Sunday afternoon for me (AEST) and some small hours of the morning for the Europeans (sorry about that).

Hope to see you there!

IntPiPoMo: Light in the Darkness

This post is part of IntPiPoMo.

Aefa deals with Night Terrors.

IntPiPoMo: Pathways

This post is part of IntPiPoMo.

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The Road goes ever on and on: 
Down from the door where it began. 
Now far ahead the Road has gone, 
And I must follow, if I can, 

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Pursuing it with eager feet, 
Until it joins some larger way 
Where many paths and errands meet. 
And whither then? I cannot say.

The Fellowship of the Ring, J R R Tolkien

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Restoration Gear List Updated for 4.3

The R&R Restoration Pre-Raid Gear List has been updated!

*Edit* The Balance Pre-Raid Gear List has also now been updated!

It now includes items that will be added to the game in patch 4.3 from Valor Points, Leatherworking and the three new 5-man Heroic dungeons.

The new raid, Dragon Soul, will have three difficulty levels - Heroic, Normal and Looking For Raid (LFR). The LFR items will have item levels 384 - 390 and will include Tier 13 gear. This post at MMO-Champion has a full list of Dragon Soul gear of all difficulties.

I decided to include the drops from Looking For Raid difficulty Dragon Soul in the gear list, as the LFR tool should make these items accessible to alts or non-regular raiders if you're willing to use it.

WTS Heals has a great post discussing many of the new items including trinkets.

Wowhead has an extensive list of all the gear from the new 5-man dungeons - End Time, Well of Eternity and Hour of Twilight.

Please remember that these items are still on the PTR and stats may change before the patch is released. I'll try to make sure they are up to date once the patch is live. I'm still working on the Balance version but it will be updated soon.

The items added to the gear list include:

Valor Points items (Horde/Alliance)

• Helmet of Perpetual Rebirth - 2200 VP 
• Threadlinked Chain - 1250 VP 
• Amulet of Burning Brilliance - 1250 VP 
• Woundlicker Cover - 1250 VP 
• Decaying Herbalist's Robes - 2200 VP 
• Luminescent Bracers - BoE , 1250 VP 
• Fungus-Born Gloves - 1250 VP 
• Belt of Universal Curing - 1650 VP 
• Boots of Fungoid Growth - BoE, 1650 VP 
• Band of Reconstruction - 1250 VP 
• Seal of the Grand Architect - 1250 VP 
• Lightning Spirit in a Bottle - 700 VP 
• Mindbender Lens - 700 VP 
• Bottled Wishes - 1650 VP 
• Reflection of the Light - 1650 VP 

Crafted

• Bracers of Flowing Serenity - Leatherworking BoE
• Leggings of Nature's Champion - Leatherworking BoE

New 5-man Dungeons

End Time:

• Timeway Headgear - End Time-H, Murozond
• Cord of Lost Hope - End Time-H, Echo of Jaina/Tyrande
• Boots of the Forked Road - Quest [Murozond], End Time
• Jaina's Staff - End Time-H, Echo of Jaina
• Chronicler's Chestguard - Quest [Documenting the Timeways], End Time

Well of Eternity:

• Spaulders of Eternity - Well of Eternity-H, Mannoroth
• Horned Band - Well of Eternity-H, Peroth'arn
• Orb of the First Satyrs - Well of Eternity-H, Peroth'arn
• Scepter of Azshara - Well of Eternity-H, Queen Azshara
• Foul Gift of the Demon Lord - Well of Eternity-H, Mannoroth (Int/mastery + proc)

Hour of Twilight:

• Cloak of Subtle Light - Hour of Twilight-H, Asira Dawnslayer
• Evergreen Wristbands - Hour of Twilight-H, Arcurion
• Leggings of Blinding Speed - Hour of Twilight-H, Asira Dawnslayer
• Signet of the Twilight Prophet - Quest [The Twilight Prophet] (Alliance only?), Hour of Twilight
• Ring of the Loyal Companion - Quest [To Wyrmrest!], Hour of Twilight
• Demonic Skull - Quest [The Path to the Dragon Soul] - quest chain begins with [The End Time](Alliance) or [The End Time] (Horde)
• Stalk of Corruption - Hour of Twilight-H, Archbishop Benedictus
• Fanged Tentacle - Hour of Twilight-H, Archbishop Benedictus

Looking For Raid Dragon Soul

Tier 13 tokens (LFR):

• Deep Earth Helm - Warmaster Blackhorn
• Deep Earth Mantle - Hagara
• Deep Earth Robes - Ultraxion
• Deep Earth Handwraps - Warlord Zon'ozz
• Deep Earth Legwraps - Yor'sahj the Unsleeping

Other drops:

• Petrified Fungal Heart - Morchok
• Mycosynth Wristguards - Morchok
• Girdle of Fungal Dreams - BoE, trash drop (?)
• Girdle of the Grotesque - Hagara
• Treads of Sordid Screams - Ultraxion
• Signet of Suturing - all bosses except Deathwing
• Ring of the Riven - Hagara
• Infinite Loop - all bosses except Deathwing
• Dragonfire Orb - trash drop?
• Ledger of Revolting Rituals - Ultraxion
• Ti'tahk, the Steps of Time - Madness of Deathwing
• Visage of the Destroyer - Warmaster Blackhorn
• Vagaries of Time - Morchok
• Scalpel of Unrelenting Agony - Yor'sahj the Unsleeping
• Maw of the Dragonlord - Madness of Deathwing
• Lightning Rod - Hagara
• Windward Heart - all bosses except Deathwing
• Seal of the Seven Signs - Warlord Zon'ozz
• Heart of Unliving - Spine of Deathwing 

IntPiPoMo: The Fire to Stand In

This post is part of IntPiPoMo.

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The Aspect of Death, doing his thing. We're coming for you, Deathy. Oh yes, we are. Well, probably not me personally, but the general raiding public will, so watch your back.

Pilgrim

Pilgrim's Bounty has arrived! Stuff yourself silly, level up your cooking and get messy in a food fight!

Above anything else, however, the most important thing to do this week is sign up for the Blog Azeroth Thanksgiving Event! Amerence has come up with this lovely way for bloggers to show how thankful they are to the community around them, so make sure you join in and you could win some great prizes! Check out the Blog Azeroth forum for more information.

IntPiPoMo: Portal

This post is part of IntPiPoMo.

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The Lich King pays a visit to Svala Sorrowgrave in Utgarde Pinnacle.

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The Howling Fjord.

IntPiPoMo: The Tower Revisited

This post is part of IntPiPoMo.

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I realise I've already posted pictures of Karazhan, but I loved this shot so much that I had to share it. The soft light makes the tower look less menacing, somehow.

Here's a bonus picture of the Sproutling to make up for repeating myself.

IntPiPoMo: Where the Tauren Roam

This post is part of IntPiPoMo.

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Mulgore is such a serene place under the moon, don't you think?

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As is Thunder Bluff by starlight.

IntPiPoMo: Morning

This post is part of IntPiPoMo.

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Just to prove that I do actually play in daylight occasionally... Sunrise over Ironband's Excavation, Loch Modan.

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Hemet Nesingwary Jr's camp in Northern Stranglethorn.

These images were brought to you by my Lilli clone, Lillijill. Haven't heard of the #gnomeclones?  Check out the full story here. Yet another project that I am having a complete ball with.

IntPiPoMo: Uldum

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Afternoon sun over Uldum and Silithus.

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Evening falls over the Lost City of the Tol'vir.

IntPiPoMo: Flora

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Flowers of Borean Tundra. Yes, I take a lot of screenshots in Northrend!

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Sholazar Basin has some amazing flora, but these red flowers are found all over the zone near running water.

IntPiPoMo: Night in the North

This post is part of IntPiPoMo.

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Grizzly Hills.

Throughout all the conflict in the Frozen North, and still now when it is quiet and calm (for now at least), the moon watches silently over Northrend.

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Sholazar Basin.

IntPiPoMo: Fire

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The Molten Front. Not all of Firelands is fiery death.

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But most of Badlands is after Deathwing went past.

IntPiPoMo: The Fjord

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King Ymiron has a great view down towards Valgarde from his back verandah.

You may recognise this view, as I've posted it before. I thought it was due an update as the scene looks so much more colourful during the day.

IntPiPoMo: Room with a View

This post is part of IntPiPoMo.

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The inn at Shadowprey Village has one of the best views in Kalimdor.

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InPiPoMo: Nostalgia

This post is part of IntPiPoMo.

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The old Thousand Needles was one of my favourite zones, visually speaking. I may have even shed a tear or two when I saw the waves rolling in during the Cataclysm trailer.

I've posted screenshots of the pre-Shattered zone before, but these are a couple extra that I had stashed away.

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