Nerd Is All The Rage

I think it started with Tome’s post and that particular nerdtest (by which I scored a whole 61 if you’re wondering), but it’s now become a bit of a rage.  Cymre posted a second test this morning and as a glutton for punishment I indulged in it.  This, admittedly is more the kind of result I expected on one of these things…

So aside from dumb and dorky I’m pretty consistent…and admittedly more in the range I expected from such a test.

You want my pocket protector? COME AND GET IT!?!?

Also, just a quick note to folks in general.  I recognize I haven’t been seen much in the digital world this week (Azeroth or other), but rest assured all is ok.  I received a few e-mails because I’d not really been on WoW this week or posted much here of significance.  This would simply be one of those periods that I eluded to when I was considering retiring from the game.  Simply other things going on and some days just didn’t have the time.  But I appreciate those who were looking out for me.  I thought it easier to do a mass fyi instead of several e-mail replies (and thus I could quell concerns anyone else might have).

Friday Top 5: Mists of Pandaria

*property of WoWInsider*

I’ll openly admit the upcoming expansion for World of Warcraft hasn’t done a whole heck of a lot to draw in my interest.  I can recognize the appeal for the general player base in regard to a number of things, it just hasn’t been for me.  But, that doesn’t mean it’s all bad in my eyes.  There are a few things I’m looking forward to and today’s Top 5 looks at what I look forward to the most about Mists of Pandaria:

5. Daily Quests No Longer Capped
News of this only came out a short time ago (or at least I didn’t hear about it until yesterday). You’re no longer limited to 25 daily quests. Part of the reason is the vast number of dailies that is apparently going to be available at level 90. Choice is good. At the same time, I like being able to do profession dailies, Molten Front for certain toons, Isle of Quel’Danas, and more…to say nothing of any world event that might be going on, or reputation based ones. That’s for someone who’s particular in what they want to do. Achievement folks must be loving this news as it gives them a chance to do more, faster.

4. The Monk
This is the one class I felt was missing from the game when folks brought up the question. We’ve seen them in a number of locations (Scarlet Monastery and Trial of the Champion, for example) and it makes sense that at some point the Horde and Alliance would have a few. Not sure that I agree with having them for all the pre-Cataclysm races but c’est la vie.

3. The Jewelcrafting Mount(s)
No, I wasn’t a huge Voltron fan and I don’t plan to get them all. However, there were a couple of skins that I very much went gaga over (no Bad Romance). I’m sure they’ll be right up there with the Chopper in terms of cost and effort to make, and we’ll no doubt have to have Exalted with a certain faction first. Even still, them is some sexy cats.

2. Black Market Auction House
My God how people have lamented over this (at least in the posts and discussions I have been involved with). Some have gone so far as to say this is Blizzard encouraging you to buy gold instead of going out and getting it. Let me just say that’s silly. Look at the ridiculous amount of money people have right now. Quest rewards and mob drops alone make it easy to make gold without even trying. The amount increases every expansion, so you do the math. This is going to be a great opportunity to snag some incredibly rare stuff -for a price. Old Naxx gear and some of the rare mounts seem to be the key items thus far. Personally, I hope it’s limited release of each and a great touch would be either BoP or making certain you can only buy one item per day, otherwise you’ll have people like myself who will flip it on the standard auction house for a ridiculous amount of profit.

1. The Lore
While I’m sure I will enjoy the details of the new continent, it’s the existing Azeroth we know about that I’m giddy for. Garrosh being a boss and Theramore getting sacked are pretty common knowledge at this point. But it’s the details that I can’t wait to see and hear. Blizzard is putting more emphasis on war between the two factions these days and from that come some really great stories. As much as I like Thrall, this expansion was honestly too much of the Shaman for me and I’m looking forward to someone else getting the spotlight. Blizzard does lore incredibly well and as such I can’t wait for what’s next.

See?  Mists isn’t all bad to me.  There’s other things that appeal to me (Hunter Stampede!) as well, despite the fact I’ve not been excited about Farmville, Pokemon, or even Pandas.  I’d like to think the difference between myself and other negative folk is that I’m not against any of the decisions Blizzard has made, save for perhaps the Talent Trees but I will discuss that at a later time (and again, I do understand the basis for it).  The things I’ve listed, I’m definitely happy about.  What about yourself?  What elements are you most excited about?

Mountgasm

Bounced around the WoWsphere today?  If not, you might’ve missed this news that came out today:

Yes, that is the racial mount for the Pandaren, hence today’s post title.  It’s not my reaction, but I think I’ve made it clear that not much in the upcoming expansion has elicited much excitement from me.  However I’m also not about to dispute fact and logic when it pertains to the general masses.

I’ll say this much, it’s certainly better than the Goblin and Worgen mounts…

Kungaloosh From A Bartender

Imagine my surprise when I discovered Kungaloosh is actually a gourmet tea.  I suppose Blizzard gets inspiration from nearly everywhere, so that stands to reason.  Now, I also discovered someone else derived a Kungaloosh recipe based on the in-game drink, and you can find that here.  I give KFC credit, as that one has the consistency you would expect.  More green than mine.  But here’s what I concocted if you wish to replicate the Sholazar thirst quencher…and get really incapacitated.

Kenada’s Kungaloosh:

• 710 mL Mountain Dew
• 1L Orange Juice
• 2 oz. White Rum
• 3 oz. Banana Liqueur
• 5 oz. Melon Liqueuer

Art Imitating Your Vision

My “May Moment”

On Thursday I posted a new monthly challenge called A Moment In Time.  You can check out the details here, and then feel free to continue as I indulge you with my assessment of our friend here:

“I’m too old for this nonsense,” Gordok thought to himself.  In his eleven years with the Orgrimmar Guard he had fended off the Burning Legion, the Alliance, dragons, and even the occasional riot. 

“You’re nothing but a street rat.  A common, lowly, street rat.” He grunted, as if he expected that bastard Goblin to hear him.  “You’ll always be a street rat.  Worst thing Warchief Garrosh ever did was allow your kind into the Horde…”

Where in Doomhammer’s name was that little bugger?  Three hours earlier Gordok had been doing his routine patrols through The Drag when he saw the Goblin lift a necklace clean off a Blood Elf who had been on her way to convene with the other dark magick practitioners.  After years of seeing it first hand, Gordok knew an enchanted item when he saw it and damned if he was going to let a Goblin take off with it, not only on his watch but in his patrol area!  If word got back to Commander Vulk that the little pissant got away…no, he’d rather not think of such things. 

He squinted a moment when he spotted the rotten thief once more, taking off towards the Valley of Strength.  “Oh no you don’t…”

Madzeroth Libs: The Return

Time to play whack an (ANIMAL) with this giant (WEAPON)

Matthew McCurley over at WoWInsider is back at it today, posting another “fill in the blank” story (my original version can be found here).  Let’s take a look at it this time around.

1. Common outdoor place
2. Animal
3. Intense emotion
4. Your favorite WoW race, plural
5. Something your favorite WoW race will never, ever do
6. A synonym for rock (it can be rock)
7. Adjective
8. Herbalism plant
9. A fish native to Azeroth
10. Your favorite Avenger (from the movie — don’t get smart with me, comic nerds. I’ll find you.)
11. Season
12. Bodily sound
13. Adjective
14. Adjective relating to old people
15. Relationship
16. Body parts
17. Proper name

So my answers before seeing the results are as follows:

1. The Park
2. Peacock
3. Frightened
4. Tauren
5. Become A Warlock
6. Boulder
7. Handy
8. Ancient Lichen
9. Sagefish
10. Hawkeye
11. Winter
12. Cough
13. Fat-headed
14. Absent-minded
15. Uncle
16. Shins
17. Wallace

And the story?

Jun Pao was a sad panda. Every day, Pao practiced his swordsmanship in a PARK near his home in the Valley of the Four Winds. One summer morning, Jun Pao was perfecting his PEACOCK-style strikes when he slipped and fell on a crumpled-up note. It read:

All challengers welcome! The fearsome orc Gormash the FRIGHTENED will fight any and all comers for the ultimate prize! Honor and glory until TAUREN successfully BECOME WARLOCKS awaits anyone who can defeat me!

Meet me at the big BOULDER.

Love,
Gormash.

This was it, Jun Pao thought. Defeating this HANDY brute in battle would surely be the final challenge, and his training would be complete. Pao quickly stuffed his ANCIENT LICHEN and SAGEFISH sandwich into his HAWKEYE lunchbox, took a swig off his minikeg of WINTER COUGH Ale, and bounded off for triumph.

“Jun Pao!” a voice called after the anxious pandaren. It was ol’ Master Ho, still as FAT-HEADED and ABSENT-MINDED as ever. Jun was like an UNCLE to the master — he wanted to make the old man proud. Jun put his SHINS together and bowed, promising to return to his master with tales of honor, fun, and slapping WALLACE in the face.

Friday Top Five: Level 34

I dinged last night to a murmur and the sound of people ending their factory shift outside last night, and I’m quite ok with that.  Actually, in coincidental celebration I saw that Levache was 33 and decided art should imitate life and thus I did just enough to hit 34 with him as well.  The bad part of that was thinking “I really should play him more.”  But, hey, it’s my birthday and I was doing what I wanted.

It also got me thinking about what I would do if I lived in Azeroth.  How would I celebrate my birthday there, given all the options available to me?  Contrary to a few jokes,  the world wouldn’t be called “Moon Guard” and I wouldn’t just buy a weekend pass to Goldshire (though in a weird way that place really does have to be seen to be believed).  Nor would I spend it all in the big city, such as Dalaran or Orgrimmar.  That’s just not me, unless it might be to seem some Gladiator combat.  So with today’s top five I give you a list of things I would do were that I were celebrating my birthday as a true Azerothian:

5. Take In Stormwind Harbor
Ignore what I just said about cities for a moment. I’ve always found the water to be a peaceful thing. There have been many many days where I’ve sat along a shore and just watched the water, felt the air move across my face and just been at true peace. It didn’t matter whether the sun was shining or the rain was falling, it felt great. There’s something even more majestic about it at night. On occasion I’ve gone to the harbor and just looked out. It’s not quite the same, but it still has a tranquility about it.

4. Buy A Couple Fortune Cards
Don’t ask me why, but this is the one day of the year where I’m almost always a sucker for a lottery ticket or a scratch ticket. Why should my Azerothian form be any different?

3. Have A Few Rounds At Bruuk’s Corner
The inn Claws of Nature called home when we were at our most active. During Winter Veil it was the place to be for a good party. There’s no reason I couldn’t do the same to celebrate my birthday. Besides, I’d love to get hammered with the Dwarves.

2. Fireworks
Since I have the privelege of being born very close to Victoria Day in Canada, there’s guaranteed to be fireworks within six days of my birthday. However, when I say fireworks in Azeroth I should probably clarify things: I want to blow the ever loving stuffing out of certain items and in a way that sends them clear off the continent. I’d probably have to visit Goblins rather than Gnomes, but I also think the Goblins wouldn’t care who was buying it -or even why.

1. Spend The Night With A Beautiful Woman
Hey, it’s the digital me and it’s my birthday. I don’t think that request is unfair. In fact, I even have one particularly striking individual in mind…