2007-09

Ctrl Alt WoW Episode 40 - Alts Tips and Stuff

First we would like to apologize for the poor sound quality in the previous 3 or 4 episodes. We were experimenting with internet recording and obviously we haven't worked out the kinks yet. So we are back to recording together in Aprillian's "studio".
Second, someone asked if we had message boards. Well we aren't really geared for that. But, if you would post a comment in this blog, we will respond to it. In fact, I think we will be commenting on thing from the podcast in the blog, so check out the comment section.
What we've been doing:
Glanthur - I leveled up my BE mage (Palanor) and I am really digging a mage. He's extra squishy. I think that even my warlock and my priest are more resilient to damage. To compare and contrast, my paladin absorbs around 60% off all damage. My mage absorbs about 15%. Yeah. I also decided on herbalism and alchemy for my professions with Palanor. I'm excited to get to 20 since then I'll be able to start going into instances. It's going to be a lot of fun since my mage is already shaping up to be one of the highest damage-dealers I've played yet. I know this is common for mages, but I'm just not used to actually killing MOBS before they can even reach me. Thanks Frostbolt.
Aprillian - Had a personal tragedy, lost a really close friend, Azeroth helped make it bearable. Spent some time working on leveling Pri, my level 17, now 18 Rogue Twink to be. It was very satisfying to lash out at things in Azeroth to help deal with the pain of losing someone.

Addons we find helpful
MobInfo
Guild Mail
macaceupdater
characterviewer
Priceper
RPGOutfitter

Appropriate professions for alts
Don't start out in Engineering or Enchanting.
New stuff since the patch
Voice Chat is here but not enabled - doesn't do much for alts.
Mac video is cool and easy to use.
Key binding for addons, very nice.
New icon for disenchanting.

Ctrl Alt Wow Episode 39 - Back to Basics

What We've Been Doing This Week
Glanthur:
My goal for this week is to start getting all of my lower-level alts up to at least level 10 (and that all-important, first skill point). I figure that doing that will help me get out of the frustration I'm feeling by not having a nice Alliance guild for Glanthur and Arlaerus to join on the Earthen Ring server.
Also, finally got the PTR Test Realm up and running. Created a pre-made hunter, paladin, and druid. It was cool, but after only a few minutes I was overwhelmed. It's like winning $300 million in a lottery drawing. All of a sudden you have all of this stuff, and you're not sure how to use it properly. You think you know what you want, but you feel empty, like nothing of it was actually earned.
I feel like rolling a mage - a BE mage. I'm stuck on the Alliance side without a nice guild for Glanthur and Arlaerus. However, on Horde side, I have Ashayo and Aprillian. So, hopefully I'll be able to level Palanor up quickly. I'm thinking Frost Mage. =)
Aprillian:
Clefthide leg armor obsession.

Ctrl Alt WoW Episode 38 - WoW Economics

Aprillian got mad at an AH Profiteer. Glanthur is back and we've got emails.
 
Glanthur is back.
What We've Been Doing
I'm a little angry about this situation.  I make a little gold selling Dragonhawk Hatchlings from Eversong Woods on the Alliance AH.
Emails:
From TomiBoy  and Marco
 
http://ctrlaltwow.com for more notes.

Ctrl Alt WoW Episode 37 Casual vs Hardcore

Glanthur is out of town, and Ashayo graciously steps in to cohost.
Casual vs Hardcore?
Fun vs. Method?
Just what constitutes a casual player? Are there different layers of casualness? Aprillian plays around 40 hours a week. But still plays in a casual manner. How does a casual casual player play.
What we've been doing this week.

All of my alts have been sending greens to Aprillian and Veyle to DE. Have also moved some alts around to use for storage. Bought Enchanter's Satchels in Thrallmar, 20 slot enchanting supply bags for several storage alts. They are BOE but worth it for the extra room.

I've re-specced Jekle to resto. He was feral, but he hardly ever gets into actual battle, and in tough battles I was running out of mana too quickly to heal efficiently.
I tried it out in Stromgarde last week. We went in there to knock over all the quests with Albinobull, who is a mighty fine warrior in the guild, and Jekle was cruising with healing.
Even though Ashayo is exalted with the Netherwing, Ogri'la and Sha'ari Skyguard she still does some of the daily quests because they are both fun and good money earners. You get about 12g per quest. And they can take as little as 2 minutes in the case of bombing runs.
And Ashayo has also been taking Asheal, which is my level teen-level undead priest, through wailing caverns. I'm sure Blizz has it in for me. When I was taking my rogue through deadmines to get the leather defias chestpiece, the cloth vest would drop - about 14 times in a row. And now that I'm running a clothy through wailing caverns, I'm getting mail and shields and other stuff useless to a priest.
Anyway, I got her to 20 last night, so that I can artisan tailor training. Hopefully I can level her a bit further during the faire next weekend.
And I've levelled Hiide to 300 alchemy so he can start doing arcanite transmutes for the faire.
And I did some farming with Ashayo. One of our guildies is trying to level enchanting, and needed some nightmare vine for making wizard oil. And that's only found in Shadowmoon valley. Farming with a flying mount is alot easier, because you can literally drop in on the node, and if you draw aggro, take off again before dismounting. So you know if you have to clear to get to a herb or ore.
We close with Episode 5 of Ashayo's Dual Boxing Tips. Thanks Ashayo.

Ctrl Alt WoW Episode 36 Guilds: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

The show's subject was prompted by an email from a listener on how to deal with guild drama.

What we've been doing.

Ardrion, Level 28 was attempting to complete some quests in 1k Needle but ends up dying too much, so he brings in Aprillian.
Used Auntrillia to go to Winterspring and Moonglade to get enchant recipes for Veyle
Speaking of Veyle, she's my level 37 Rogue and for the first time in a long time, I played her. And I solved a problem that had been plaguing me. How to get her lockpicking skills up. I had done the boxes on the boat in Ratchet and the ones in Stonealon Mountains, but looking for them took time. Then I heard all this talk about picking pockets and it wasn't until Rilfire took Veyle to RFD and she started pickpocketing the Quillboar there and getting a bunch of worn lockboxes, that it all clicked.
Ashayo's two characters Hiide, a hunter, and Jekle, a druid have dinged 40 this week.

Email no. 1
Hey Aprillian and Glanthur,
I was wondering if in your next podcast you could talk about guild drama and how to handle it. Some people panic and go crazy at the thought of people leaving (like in AIE) and some just remain calm.
-Vino
Uchihavino in Alea Iacta Est
For the Horde
Email No. 2
Hi, I'm Marco Aka Dorom from the WoWBOX podcast which will be coming to iTunes soon. I play on the Eu realms on the Shadowmoon PVP server and I listen to your show every week. I find your podcast more cheerful than others and I always have a smile on my face while listening to it. I have 2 questions for you. The first one is, how can I make good money in WoW while being a low level (Blood Elf Paladin level 16)? I always find it hard to make gold fast. Also, can you give me some advice on starting up a podcast and getting it out there?
Keep up the good work on the podcast and keep those episodes coming.
FOR THE HORDE!!!!
From Marco
PS> Sorry Glanthur.
Aprillian: Money is funny in WoW. When you are low, it seems like you never can get enough. But then once you get some, you get more. At level 16, you aren't suppose to have a lot of gold, unless you have a higher level alt. I started on a server, and I picked a profession I liked, two gathering professions, mining and herbalism. And I just started selling stuff on the AH.