Hearthstone - Massive Damage

I was playing the Hunter again tonight.

I got Blessed Champion in my opening hand as well as an Abusive Sergeant and a blessing of Might but I couldn't keep a minion on the board long enough to use them.

Then I got to turn 9 and played Alexstrasza bringing him down 7 health to 15 and he then killed her off. Then I played a Guardian of Kings on 26 heath and Argent Protector'd him when my opponent had 2 minions on the board. That should have told him something.

By now I have 2 Blessings of Might and still have the ring left.

He doesn't even take the shield off and then I topdeck Blessing of Kings.

I play both BoMs and then BoK then my ring allowing me to use the Blessed Champion to double the attack up to 30!!!

Slight overkill!

Hearthstone: Go On - Kill Yourself!

Was playing the Hunter today and it was getting close.

He was down to 4 health and I wasn't far behind.

I put a secret up - the damage all enemies by 2 when your hero is attacked. Then I shot him in the face. The outcome was inevitable then!

WoW: Azeroth Choppers episode 2

Yep, the second episode is out and you can find it here

Blizzcon Tickets Now on Sale

Just spotted on my facebook feed that Blizzcon has been announced, this was what it read ...

BlizzCon returns on Nov 7-8 to the Anaheim Convention Center! Read more about the show and how to get tickets: http://bit.ly/1gPbsV3

Hearthstone: First experience on iPad

So we're off to the in-laws for Easter weekend so it was time to download and install the iPad app on the wife's iPad mini.

All went smoothly until I started playing.

The daily was Rogue or Warlock.

So I loaded up the murloc deck and then lost 2 games in a row. The first I was winning 27-4 and the second I was wining 28-1!!!

Ouch!!!

Hearthstone: iPad Global Launch

Apparently Hearthstone is now available in all regions on iPad. I think I may need to hide the wife's iPad and do a sneeky download!!

Hearthstone: Druid Murloc Deck ... WTF?

Do I need to say more?

WoW: Azeroth Choppers!

Looks Interesting ...

WoW: Big Bear Butt Has it Spot On

Check out BBB's Latest Post. As usual he has it spot on.

TL;DR The game isn't being dumbed down. People complain that their LFR runs are full of undergeared, un-re-forged, un-gemmed, un-glyphed alts and then they complain that Blizzard simplify the game so that those very same alts are more level with them. You can't win!

Hearthstone: That's Gotta Hurt!

End of Round 4!

WoW: Stacks of Determination

Went to Vale of Eternal Sorrows tonight.

I joined part way through and we went and knocked off Norushen first time. Well first time for me, we had 2 stacks at the time!!!

Then we went onto Sha and eventually got him after 3 stacks had built up, and lots of time waiting for the group to rebuild after every wipe!!

The thing is, last week I started a fight prematurely to grab an extra stack and we didn't get it. Today we spent less time on a fight I prematurely started again and we did get the stack.

So, what's the criteria for getting a stack?

Hearthstone: iPad Rollout

Woah! That was a surprise, and a strange one at that.

Hearthstones iPad rollout happened on Wednesday... kinda!

You can now play Hearthstone on your iPad IF you live in Canada, Australia or New Zealand.

Odd.

Check out the news HERE.

WoW: Gates of Retribution ... It All Started so Well

I signed up for all 4 SoO wings on LFR tonight and which one should pop first? Bleeding GoR!!!

Oh well, if it turns out crap I'll just leave and play Hearthstone for a bit .

We actually manage 1st 3 bosses easily; one shotting each of them with one tank plus a DK off spec tank who was queued as dps.

I get a piece of loot w/o bonus roll from each ...

Windfire Legplates - Have tier pants.
Laser Slice Signet - Already got.
Kardris' Scepter - Already got.

Never mind.

Then we got to Nazgrim and the wipes started

1st attempt he was down to 53m
Then second go he was down to 25m

Then ppl started leaving quicker than replacements were joining. It was close to mignight too, so when we dipped under 10 people and we'd been re-queued for 30 minutes it was time for me to go too :(

WoW: Bashiok's April Fool

And another. Check it out here or just read on ...

It is the era of an Old Horde, forged with steel rather than fel blood. A union of great orc clans, the Iron Horde, tramples the planet Draenor beneath terrifying war machines. Azeroth falls next. Worlds uncounted will follow.

With the Warlords of Draenor beta on the horizon, we’re offering a short preview of some of the changes coming in the expansion, which we’ll be asking a few of you to help us test. Please keep in mind that everything here is subject to change, and that these do not encompass all of the features or changes planned for the beta, or final release.

Visit the Warlords of Draenor announcement site for more information on the major features coming in the new expansion.

General
- As part of our efforts to present players with smaller and more easily digestible numbers (the so-called “Stat Squish”), World of Warcraft has been converted to use a base-20 (vigesimal) number system. As a result, all stats have been decreased by 2BA0E%.
- To ensure the game can maintain its current age group ratings, Garrosh Hellscream is now Garrosh Heckscream, and the Cult of the Damned has been renamed to the Cult of the Danged.
- To prevent confusion over whether you’re playing a card game or returning to town, the Hearthstone will now be called a Homerock.
-To encourage exploration of the world all Flightmasters are now Walkmasters.
- Walkmasters provide a guided tour of the world, giving out small bits of trivia for the area you’re in as they walk alongside you to your destination. If they walk slower than you’d like, just use your Homerock.
- Daytime in the world of Azeroth is now 50% brighter, and comparatively nighttime will now appear darker.
- Dogecoin is now accepted as a form of payment, but no one really knows how it works.
- Due to ongoing legal disputes with the Stonemasons Guild, repairs on Stormwind Park continue to be bogged down in political turmoil.
- New paid service: Character Bust. Pay to de-level any character back to 1, removing all items, mounts, and gold, so you can relive the good ol’ days.
- Once again, due to lack of use, the Dance Studio has been removed from the game.
- The Lion’s Pride Inn in Goldshire has been renamed to the Peppermint Clefthoof.
- Transmogrification is now an entirely random event, and occurs via a new Hunter Transmogrification NPC named Nivlac. Nivlac will spawn randomly into the world and shoot you with his Transmogrifier to permanently turn your character into whatever he happens to be thinking about at the time. His pet, Sebboh, probably has something witty and insightful to say about that.
- New Faction: G.R.O.S.S. – This faction is led by Nivlac, and their headquarters is found high in the treetops of Nagrand. Are you prepared to play a spirited round of Nivlac Ball to gain entry into its most hallowed sanctum?
- The “kazoo music” heard in Pandaren inns now have a chance to play instead of any other music anywhere in the game.
- In addition to a Proving Grounds medal of Silver or better being required to queue for Warlords of Draenor Heroic dungeons, a medal of Gold or better is now required to post in the forums.

Classes
Death Knight

- Death Knight voice modulation has been reduced to infrasound frequencies. Blizzard shall not be held responsible for any damage to subwoofers or loss of control of bodily functions as a result.
- Brittle Bones now has a 50% chance to turn the target into a purple-wearing supervillain.
- Threat of Thassarian tooltip changed to explain who the hell Thassarian is.
- Due to circumstances beyond our control, the pact has been unsealed.
- Using Death Grip on something larger than your character will cause you to be pulled toward the creature instead of the creature being pulled toward you. Gnomes should just probably not be Death Knights.

Druid
- To equalize utility between classes we have removed the Druid’s fifth spec.
- Symbiosis now also inherits all raid and boss lockouts from the target.
- Chatting while in Cat Form will now be presented with poor spelling, in all caps, using the Impact font.
- Druids in Bear Form now receive a bonus to Fishing.
- Druids in Moonkin Form are now 50% more delicious. As always, we recommend Free Range Moonkin whenever available.
- Tree of Life form now has a healing penalty during Autumn and Winter.

Hunter

- For safety, all Hunters must now wear bright orange vests at all times.
- New Pet System: Obedience
- Pets now have an Obedience level. Each new pet must now be carefully trained over weeks and months for several hours a day to increase its Obedience level. A pet with full Obedience will obey commands 90% of the time. Pets without full Obedience may randomly decide to chase critters, make messes indiscriminately, pursue other players on mounts, or sleep instead of following a command.
- Typing /SQUIRREL will reduce all nearby pets’ Obedience level.
- Pets acquired above level 1 increase their Obedience level at a significantly reduced rate.
- Bows and Crossbows now use the Gun sounds.
- Aspect of the Hawk now provides a 30% bonus to Attack Power, up from 25%.
- Aspect of the Pack has been renamed to Aspect of the Doge. Many daze, much anger, so mystery, wow!
- Hunters now have access to an exclusive weapon type: Straw. From not-so-great distances, spatter your enemies with unique abilities Spit-wad, Backwash, Snot Rocket, and Booger Barrage.
- Snake Trap now catches 50% more snakes.

Mage
- Using the Mage spell Blink will now attract the attention of creepy angel statues. Don’t “Blink.”
- To make playing a Mage more enjoyable, players who use the words “tray,” “food,” “drink,” “table,” “snack,” “mage,” or “pls” in Raid, Party, Battleground, Say, Yell, General, or Trade channels within a Mage’s hearing are killed instantly.
- All existing Portal spells have been removed.
- New Ability: Portal: Walkmaster summons your own personal Walkmaster to lead you to your destination.
- New Ability: Polymorph Polymorphism, transforms the enemy into a slightly different version of themselves.
- Time Warp now requires just a jump to the left.
- Fixed a typo. Ice Floes is now correctly spelled Ice Flows.
- Mage Armor has a new icon.
- Ring of Frost has been replaced by Ring of Fire for Fire-specced Mages, and it burns, burns, burns.
- New vegan Conjure options have been added, including Conjure Soyfreshment, Conjure Fennel Bean Gem, and Conjure Avocado Asparagus Tartine with a Miso Sesame Winter Squash Gastrique.

Monk
- Due to ratings concerns, all references to “brew” have been replaced with “giggle juice.”
- The amount healed by Healing Sphere has been increased by 1000%, because RUN OVER THE HEALING SPHERES.
- Blackout Kick now causes the victim to wake up the next day and question their life choices.
- Legacy of the White Tiger critical strike chance is now increased by 10% for all characters with green eyes.
- Detox now sends instructions to the target about this new diet you’ve been reading about.

Paladin
- Turn Evil can now be cast on players and NPCs. When used, it applies a small dark goatee and causes them to constantly explain their diabolical plans while steepling their fingers.
- Cleanse now surrounds the target with an outhouse and asks everyone to not talk for a bit.
- New Ability: Renounce. When cast, Renounce permanently changes the Paladin into a Warrior.
- Eternal Flame now correctly sets the targeted player on fire, forever.
- If Diablo III: Reaper of Souls is installed, Paladin characters will stare longingly over a fence at the Crusader, and then look away and pretend to be picking their nails if the Crusader notices.

Priest
- Shadow Priests have been retuned to be almost as good as Warlocks in every way. Almost.
- Chakra, when the walls fell.
- Vampiric Embrace now calls upon a glittery vampire to hold you and tell you he will always protect you, Bella.
- Mind Sear has been renamed Mind Seer, allowing the Priest to see things no else can see. Do things no one else can do. Is it getting warm in here?
- The Discipline passive Train of Thought can now be interrupted. Probably by the garbage truck, or that dog that just never stops barking whenever they let it outside.
- Mind Seer plays tricks on you. You play tricks back! It's like you're unraveling a big cable-knit sweater that someone keeps knitting and knitting and knitting and knitting and knitting and knitting and knitting…
- New Spell: Holy Diver. Sends the caster down too long in the Midnight Sea.

Rogue
- Rogue specializations have been renamed to better encapsulate the skills and gameplay they represent.
- Assassination is now known as “Stabby”
- Combat is now known as “Pokey”
- Subtlety is now known as “Shanky”
- To help resolve spelling issues once and for all, Rogues have been renamed to Blush.
- Blush can once again use Bucklers!
- Blush no longer have access to the ability Swash, but at least they can still Buckle.
- Fan of Knives now also makes your family kind of worried about you.
- Cloak and Dagger continues to remind you of that Dabney Coleman movie from the 80s with the old couple that really freaked you out.

Shaman
- Rockbiter Totem now transforms the Shaman into a large stone elemental that cannot save their friends, despite having such big, strong hands.
- Rolling Thunder now also causes lightning to strike.
- Mail Specialization now correctly applies to female Shaman as well. Sorry about that, we misread it.
- The talent Rushing Streams now also really makes you have to pee.
- Casting Unleash Flame will now ignite your Healing Rain spell, setting fire to it.
- We give up. Shaman is now spelled “Shawmun.”

Warlock
- All spells and abilities have been significantly revamped. Again. You’ll figure it out.
- Warlocks are now overpowered. This will be addressed in a future expansion.
- Riding Felsteeds single file into battle will no longer hide Warlock numbers.

Warrior
- Warriors have been nerfed because reasons.
- Charge no longer stuns a target, and instead roots them for 1.5 seconds.
- New ability: Heroic Sit. All that mobility makes Warriors tired. Using Charge more than once in a 10-minute period now applies the “I’m tiiiiiired” debuff, which can be removed by employing Heroic Sit. Heroic Sit roots the Warrior in place, puts on the ballgame, and gives the Warrior an ice-cold giggle juice.
- Charge no longer roots a target, and instead stuns them for 1.5 seconds.
- Intervene can now be used when your one friend gets out of hand at the bar again because he can NOT go back to County.
- Charge no longer roots or stuns a target, and instead Polymorphs them for 1.5 seconds.
- Shockwave is now aGlyph of Rude Interruption is here too! How’s it going? Just wanted to say hey.
- Charge is now a passive effect.
- Disarm now correctly removes the targets’ arms.
- You know what? Charge has been removed from the game. OK? Great job. We hope you’re happy.
- The Protection passive Ultimatum just isn’t going to put up with it anymore. It’s either me or her, Jerry!

Quests
- To address player sentiment issues, the daily quest blue-colored exclamation points have been changed to look like the more positively perceived orange-colored ones.
- The Love is in the Air quest “Crushing the Crown” has been renamed “Crushing the Candy”. Bring it.

Creatures
- All ducks can now drop items.
- Crabs have been removed from the game... because if I see another one I’m just going to totally lose it. *sobbing* I’m sorry, I just can’t right now... I just... OK just give me a minute, I’ll be OK.

Raids, Dungeons, and Scenarios
- As a part of the pre-expansion launch event, reaching the end of the Siege of Orgrimmar raid will now display: “Thank you! But our Garrosh is in another castle.”
- Due to recent acquisitions, The Oculus is temporarily inaccessible.
- Loot drop randomization has been made approximately 30% more random.
- Despite concerns over workers’ rights violations due to unreasonable weather conditions, Arthas has stated that people should let it go, and that he will indeed remain the final boss of Icecrown Citadel. The cold never bothered him anyway.
- Single-player dungeons have been added with challenging mobs and boss encounters. Queue times, however, are just going to be, like, totally bonkers.
- Onyxia has stopped breathing altogether. Emergency services have been contacted and are en route.
- Flying mounts can now be used in all Pandaria Raids.
- As an added convenience, we’ve removed annoying obstacles like walls, ceilings, and anything else resembling an environment.
- Trash packs now appear more festive and will break into choreographed dance routines when players fly over them. This tech was salvaged from the remnants of the Dance Studio, may it RIP in peace (again).

Pet Battles
- Pet Garrisons
- Why should you get to have all the fun? Introducing the Pet Garrison! A miniature version of your Garrison within your Garrison, run by your Battle Pets.
- Pet Pet Garrison
- Why should your pet get to have all the fun? Introducing the Pet Pet Garrison! A miniature version of your pet’s Pet Garrison within your pet’s Pet Garrison, run by your Battle Pet’s Battle Pets.

PvP
- Players who attempt to create a character on a PvP realm will first be directed to read a thread about the Censer of Eternal Agony on the forums.
- The Black Market Auction House has been moved to the floor of the Gurubashi Arena.
- We’ve reverted recent changes in Alterac Valley, as we’ve discovered the Horde were sometimes able to win.
- Increased the number of Battleground maps able to be downvoted to 14 (up from 2).
- Trial of the Gladiator is being reworked, and will instead offer players the chance to judge last season’s Gladiators for their crimes against humanity.
- Upon being killed in PvP, you’ll now be presented with an interface allowing you to directly contact the developer responsible for this crap.
- Due to PvE gear being so much better in world PvP, we're now offering all PvE content to those who only purchased the PvP version of the game.

Professions
- Due to new Horde and Alliance policies, bandages can only be used on players who spend at least 38 hours per week completing quests.
- Herbalism is now legal in Coldarra.
- Tailors can now make cloth armor in addition to bags.
- In addition to picking flowers, Herbalists can now also pick their nose. The ability is only usable when not in line-of-sight with other players.

UI
- Upon beating World of Warcraft, a New Game+ option will appear on the main menu, which allows players to replay the game at a more challenging difficulty level.
- A new option “Twitch to Move” has been added, allowing movement and actions to be controlled by people watching you on Twitch.tv.

Items
- Transmogrification rules are being relaxed, and you can now transmog trinkets, rings, and neck items.
- Any references to [redacted] have been removed from the game.
- Rocket launchers have been added. Sweet, sweet rocket launchers.
- The Broken I.W.I.N. Button can now be repaired via a one-time purchase through the in-game Shop.
- The Stoneskin Gargoyle Cape is now slightly whiter and longer than your average cloak or cape.
- Someone said Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker.
- Wrathion will once again ask the heroes of Azeroth to embark on an expansion-long quest, culminating in the reward of a Legendary item. First players must reach Draenor and help to guide Anduin through his formative years, teaching him how to talk to girls, how to tie a tie, etc. This process takes approximately 4-5 years, but could extend well into his 20’s depending on how much he resents you. You’ll then graciously enter into the Arenas and attain a rating of 2200 or higher. Wrathion will then send level-100 players on an epic quest to collect 60 small knickknacks from Normal Dungeon bosses. These are just for Wrathion’s small curio collection. You’ll then be asked to go on a whirlwind tour of Azeroth and defeat every Battle Pet trainer—we hope you’ve been practicing! Then you need to get 3,000 Valor; unfortunately Valor might not really be a thing anymore, so he wishes you good luck with that. After that point, though, it’s just a short skip and a jump of beating every Raid boss in the expansion 12 times, on separate lockouts, to prove your worth to wear the ultimate prize, a Legendary T-shirt and the Achievement “I Helped Wrathion and All I Got Was This Lousy Shirt”.

Blizzard's April Fool?

I don't remember an April Fool from Blizzard for the last few years after their classics of yesteryear.

I suspect this is though ...

Clicky Clicky

Love the FAQs ...

Q: When is this game coming out and what platforms will I be able to play it on? 
A: Blizzard Outcasts™: Vengeance of the Vanquished™ will be released on PC, Mac, and special order arcade cabinets this holiday season.

Q: Any plans to release this game on next generation consoles?
A: ...oh. That probably would have made more sense than arcade cabinets.

Heartstone: New Season Today!

I logged on to Hearthstone tonight and was greeted with a message that I had attained rank 18 in test season 4. Really? I reached rank 16 on Sunday!!

You're kidding right, it takes the end of season rank rather than the best of season? GRRR!!!

So, it's the first real season, April 2014 is it's name apparently. That's a bit odd. I wonder what that means? :P

So, I finished up at level/rank 18 so I got a 7 stars headstart on season 'April 2014' allowing me start at 22.

Today's daily was 2 wins with Mage or Shaman. I should have dumped it as it took all evening on or off to get those wins (although I was also catching up with about 10 blog posts!). I got there in the end though. Still haven't resubbed to WoW so nothing better to do!!! Unless I were to log in to Rift ... now there's an idea ... I could even install the expansion that I bought at Christmas :P

So, anyway. I think Blizz have changed the match up criteria. I have only ever been matched up in Ranked play with my level, and I think very occasionally with those 1 above or below.

Tonight, as Rank 22, I faced a 24 and a 20 so I think they have expanded the match up range to speed up queue times. Dunno why. 20 seconds seems like a reasonable queue time for me.