Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Packing and Moving...
So, after fielding multiple complaints about my commenting system, I decided to relocate. Follow me to the new and improved Imp and a Tree. I have imported everything before this post. I do have to say that wordpress seems to have a much better interface than blogger. The header image is a different size, so I need to do a bit of retooling there. Nonetheless, please go to the new site, and put all sorts of links back to it!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Holy Crap!
I guess I have officially "made it" in the blogging world! I am laying in bed, catching up on my blog reading (did I mention that work is being a total pain right now?) when I came across Tamarind's Link Love post (at the end of a rant, but hey, that's Tam, ffs!)
Now I feel bad about the crappy post I did the other day. Guess I will have to hold myself to a higher standard than THAT ever again.
Thanks, Tam!
Now I feel bad about the crappy post I did the other day. Guess I will have to hold myself to a higher standard than THAT ever again.
Thanks, Tam!
Multi box small update
Wow did that last one wander into the ditch. Ah well. Not much time to play lately. I've been stuck at work late every night. Hopefully this project finishes up tomorrow morning.
In any event. I had the 4 girls out the other day, and got my son to get on a pally to tank deadmines for me. I learned some things. Particularly, I need to change the spec on one of the girls to resto. Then, I need to tweak my macro's so that I can either be full-on DPS, or 3 dps plus healing. I need to decide how to do the heal targeting. I have a couple options:
First, there is focus. Upside is that it is very simple to set up. Downside is that I pretty much have to decide at the start of the run who the one person is that will receive the heals.
The other option is to work the script / macro system. Currently, I have 3 copies of WoW running on 1 computer, and a 4th on my laptop. Depending on which client has mouse focus, all the others assist that one before casting. I could do something where the client on the laptop throws the heal at whichever window has mouse focus on the main computer. This makes tank healing impossible, but add flexibility when I run alone.
I guess we will just have to see which one works out best. I may try to implement both. Focus-healing won't require one of the 20 precious 'high-function' script slots that I have.
What makes them high-function? I will post the macro here, and get into how it works later.
/assist [mod:ctrl,mod:shift,nomod:alt]Hàtshepsut;[mod:ctrl,mod:alt,nomod:shift]Hâtshepsut;[mod:alt,mod:shift,nomod:ctrl]Hãtshepsut
/cast [harm]Lightning Bolt
On the other end, my key repeater (HotKeyNet) detects which window my mouse is in, and adds the key modifiers based on that.
Next time, I will dissect the macros and discuss a problem I am having with /castsequence
In any event. I had the 4 girls out the other day, and got my son to get on a pally to tank deadmines for me. I learned some things. Particularly, I need to change the spec on one of the girls to resto. Then, I need to tweak my macro's so that I can either be full-on DPS, or 3 dps plus healing. I need to decide how to do the heal targeting. I have a couple options:
First, there is focus. Upside is that it is very simple to set up. Downside is that I pretty much have to decide at the start of the run who the one person is that will receive the heals.
The other option is to work the script / macro system. Currently, I have 3 copies of WoW running on 1 computer, and a 4th on my laptop. Depending on which client has mouse focus, all the others assist that one before casting. I could do something where the client on the laptop throws the heal at whichever window has mouse focus on the main computer. This makes tank healing impossible, but add flexibility when I run alone.
I guess we will just have to see which one works out best. I may try to implement both. Focus-healing won't require one of the 20 precious 'high-function' script slots that I have.
What makes them high-function? I will post the macro here, and get into how it works later.
/assist [mod:ctrl,mod:shift,nomod:alt]Hàtshepsut;[mod:ctrl,mod:alt,nomod:shift]Hâtshepsut;[mod:alt,mod:shift,nomod:ctrl]Hãtshepsut
/cast [harm]Lightning Bolt
On the other end, my key repeater (HotKeyNet) detects which window my mouse is in, and adds the key modifiers based on that.
Next time, I will dissect the macros and discuss a problem I am having with /castsequence
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Multi-boxing
I guess it has been a week and a half since I posted anything. Yea, I am lazy, I guess. I have another project I have been working on (writing a story) that has cut into my WoW time, plus I have been doing something different in-game.
I got out my 4-box shaman team.
Chastity and Firespirit (see? I am still reading the blogs anyway.) both make the point that the endgame has become EZMode. I agree with both, and I think that both make interesting points about accessibility vs. boredom. Multi-boxing allows me to attempt to break that cycle, anyway. I have 4 shaman (shamans? Shamii? anyway...) All are specced elemental with talent point selection being whatever I think looks cool at the time. Lately, the 4 girls have been running the Deadmines, making better and better progress as we go. For the record, I am not picking up a fifth member, preferring to 4-man the dungeon myself.
Last night, I attempted the Goblin Foundry and succeeded. I was so stoked I went on to down Mr. Smite, without a single death. Dinner being finished is the only thing that kept me from wiping on VanCleef then and there.
For me, multiboxing is a different game than normal. I am still running dungeons, but I have full control of the group. With the baby priest, I am at the mercy of DF and whatever players it assigns me. With the 'boxers, tho, I know what to expect, and the accomplishment is all mine. Additionally, the preparatory work that comes from writing the scripts ( I borrow concepts from the multi-boxing community, but the scripts are all written myself. I also use an excellent add on to help with group organization. Finally, since I play the 4 toons across 2 computers, I have a software KVM and another piece of software that lets me broadcast keystrokes to all of the WoW clients at once.
This is where you have to be careful with the ToS. You cannot get too fancy with your out of game scripting, or you break the 'one keypress, one action' rule. Blizz has told us many times though that 'boxing is NOT cheating.
So how does this all relate? When I get on the Tree and heal heroics I find that I, like Chastity, am being carried by my gear. Being left-handed, I have keybound my heal spells to the number pad on the right of the keyboard and run the mouse with the left. When I first hit 80, I would be leaning into the computer, frantically hammering the keys to keep everyone alive. Now, I am reclined in the seat, using the mouse on my leg and tapping Wild Growth every once in a while.
The baby priest has her own issues, in that if the heroic dungeon finder is a Sanity Tap, then the low level DF is even worse. Losing sanity for 0 badges. Tho I get some XP.
I guess what I am rambling on and on to say is that for me, multi-boxing allows me to find a fresh angle to the game. I get away from the repetitiveness of questing (especially at lower levels) and also have a way to avoid the players that don't understand threat and group mechanics. Multiboxing FTW!
If there is interest (or even if not. HA!) I will be adding more info about my multiboxing setup. Scripts that I use, etc.
---End of completely rambling post. Sorry, Frutsration with the IRL job is affecting my mental state right now---
I got out my 4-box shaman team.
Chastity and Firespirit (see? I am still reading the blogs anyway.) both make the point that the endgame has become EZMode. I agree with both, and I think that both make interesting points about accessibility vs. boredom. Multi-boxing allows me to attempt to break that cycle, anyway. I have 4 shaman (shamans? Shamii? anyway...) All are specced elemental with talent point selection being whatever I think looks cool at the time. Lately, the 4 girls have been running the Deadmines, making better and better progress as we go. For the record, I am not picking up a fifth member, preferring to 4-man the dungeon myself.
Last night, I attempted the Goblin Foundry and succeeded. I was so stoked I went on to down Mr. Smite, without a single death. Dinner being finished is the only thing that kept me from wiping on VanCleef then and there.
For me, multiboxing is a different game than normal. I am still running dungeons, but I have full control of the group. With the baby priest, I am at the mercy of DF and whatever players it assigns me. With the 'boxers, tho, I know what to expect, and the accomplishment is all mine. Additionally, the preparatory work that comes from writing the scripts ( I borrow concepts from the multi-boxing community, but the scripts are all written myself. I also use an excellent add on to help with group organization. Finally, since I play the 4 toons across 2 computers, I have a software KVM and another piece of software that lets me broadcast keystrokes to all of the WoW clients at once.
This is where you have to be careful with the ToS. You cannot get too fancy with your out of game scripting, or you break the 'one keypress, one action' rule. Blizz has told us many times though that 'boxing is NOT cheating.
So how does this all relate? When I get on the Tree and heal heroics I find that I, like Chastity, am being carried by my gear. Being left-handed, I have keybound my heal spells to the number pad on the right of the keyboard and run the mouse with the left. When I first hit 80, I would be leaning into the computer, frantically hammering the keys to keep everyone alive. Now, I am reclined in the seat, using the mouse on my leg and tapping Wild Growth every once in a while.
The baby priest has her own issues, in that if the heroic dungeon finder is a Sanity Tap, then the low level DF is even worse. Losing sanity for 0 badges. Tho I get some XP.
I guess what I am rambling on and on to say is that for me, multi-boxing allows me to find a fresh angle to the game. I get away from the repetitiveness of questing (especially at lower levels) and also have a way to avoid the players that don't understand threat and group mechanics. Multiboxing FTW!
If there is interest (or even if not. HA!) I will be adding more info about my multiboxing setup. Scripts that I use, etc.
---End of completely rambling post. Sorry, Frutsration with the IRL job is affecting my mental state right now---
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Low level Dungeon Finder
I ask, because I have to: Are there ANY players on alliance side that know how to run Wailing Caverns?
I have been playing the baby priest, when I get a chance to play at all, and she is level 18 now. At first, I got a string of 6 RFC runs in a row, which was all good. But then, it started throwing me into WC....
The first time through was so bad, I was laughing all the way. The epitome of the run was when the hunter ran ahead of everyone. The rest of the group started following, suddenly, she comes around a corner running back towards us. "oops" as she runs past, followed by 8 alligators, 2 weird lookin' things, and a druid. All but the tank died, b/c I was laughing too hard to heal anyone else. Sadly, she and the mage dropped right after that. I honestly would have stuck with that one till all my gear was at 0, just b/c it was funny.
The next time through, though, was more train-wreck, less laughing. Bear tank that would run into a pack of mobs, and only hit one of them. DPS that unloaded on a different one, leaving 1 or 2 to come eat my face as soon as I threw out a lesser heal. Ah, well. I can't tell if the problem is people so used to running their herd of 80's through heroics by brute force, or total newbs that refuse to be taught anything.
I don't remember where I read it, but I agree with the sentiment that Wrath heroics are making us less skilled as players. When is the last time anyone used CC? Have you EVER seen kill order marked in a heroic? once? Maybe? The spats between healers, tanks, and DPS (myself included in that one) are a result of all of us expecting everything to be on EZ-Mode. When things get challenging, it must be someone else's fault, because I haven't failed at anything for so long....
In other news, I really do want to dust off the warlock, and run him around again. I *reallly* need to finish the push to 80 with him, too. I just know deep down in my heart of hearts that I am not a very good DPS player, and healing is so much easier.
And finally, for those that care, My story development has been progressing. I had an urge to write again, so I figured I would jott out a couple paragraphs of introductory stuff for a new character. She has, however, taken on some sort of weird life of her own, and I am currently doing a second chapter on her, which may get so long I have to split it into a third. I don't mind that kind of trouble tho!
LaterZ!
I have been playing the baby priest, when I get a chance to play at all, and she is level 18 now. At first, I got a string of 6 RFC runs in a row, which was all good. But then, it started throwing me into WC.
The first time through was so bad, I was laughing all the way. The epitome of the run was when the hunter ran ahead of everyone. The rest of the group started following, suddenly, she comes around a corner running back towards us. "oops" as she runs past, followed by 8 alligators, 2 weird lookin' things, and a druid. All but the tank died, b/c I was laughing too hard to heal anyone else. Sadly, she and the mage dropped right after that. I honestly would have stuck with that one till all my gear was at 0, just b/c it was funny.
The next time through, though, was more train-wreck, less laughing. Bear tank that would run into a pack of mobs, and only hit one of them. DPS that unloaded on a different one, leaving 1 or 2 to come eat my face as soon as I threw out a lesser heal. Ah, well. I can't tell if the problem is people so used to running their herd of 80's through heroics by brute force, or total newbs that refuse to be taught anything.
I don't remember where I read it, but I agree with the sentiment that Wrath heroics are making us less skilled as players. When is the last time anyone used CC? Have you EVER seen kill order marked in a heroic? once? Maybe? The spats between healers, tanks, and DPS (myself included in that one) are a result of all of us expecting everything to be on EZ-Mode. When things get challenging, it must be someone else's fault, because I haven't failed at anything for so long....
In other news, I really do want to dust off the warlock, and run him around again. I *reallly* need to finish the push to 80 with him, too. I just know deep down in my heart of hearts that I am not a very good DPS player, and healing is so much easier.
And finally, for those that care, My story development has been progressing. I had an urge to write again, so I figured I would jott out a couple paragraphs of introductory stuff for a new character. She has, however, taken on some sort of weird life of her own, and I am currently doing a second chapter on her, which may get so long I have to split it into a third. I don't mind that kind of trouble tho!
LaterZ!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Revelation
Is it possible that I have been to hard on tanks? I have heard rumors that I may not be looking at all sides of the issue...
This posting over on altadin has me suspecting that I may need to review my outlook. In all seriousness, it is a good read, and worth the time to look at. I learned a couple things and so, I suspect, will you!
This posting over on altadin has me suspecting that I may need to review my outlook. In all seriousness, it is a good read, and worth the time to look at. I learned a couple things and so, I suspect, will you!
PUG Bingo
Just a quick note to point out that Cruce of Eternal on Scarlet Crusade has created some bingo sheets for maintaining sanity while grinding away on the new dungeon finder.
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
These are amazing, and I will be using them whenever I can, since I already printed them out. Of course, I won't be getting any of the squares that are disparaging to healers.. /wink
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
These are amazing, and I will be using them whenever I can, since I already printed them out. Of course, I won't be getting any of the squares that are disparaging to healers.. /wink
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