Posts
6 months ago
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Name Change
After a very polite e-mail from a fellow blogger who happens to share the same blog name as myself, I have decided to change the name of this site. Nothing other than the name should be affected so it should be business as usual. for the meantime I think I will use the title, "The Dein Perspective" maybe not the most colorful name out there, but hopefully unique enough to not trounce on others intellectual property!
Back from vacation!
Well what a busy week it has been, or at least for me. Unfortunately the site has been left inactive in my absence while I camped out in the Canadian north, my apologies for not leaving a warning post!
All in all the camping trip was a lot of fun, and I got to do a lot of WoW activities in RL, ie: fishing, cooking, swimming, etc, etc... However, now that I'm back there are bills to be paid, names to be changes (see above), and raids to be had!
All in all the camping trip was a lot of fun, and I got to do a lot of WoW activities in RL, ie: fishing, cooking, swimming, etc, etc... However, now that I'm back there are bills to be paid, names to be changes (see above), and raids to be had!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wrathful Thinking
Wrathful Thinking is a column about Wrath of the Lich King, our hopes, dreams, and concerns for the upcoming expansion.
Let's talk about the new 51 point BM talent, Beast Mastery!
The idea of taming such monstrosities such as the devilsaur has always been a dream to most hunters, myself included, and it seems like we are finally going to be able to do just that! Now from a raiding/min-max POV, it's a little hard to say how good this talent is actually going to be. The extra 5 talent points don't seem like much but it just might be powerful enough to hold its own. However, from an aesthetic point of view this talent is awesome. Players will now be able to easily distinguish between BM hunters since we are now getting awesomely unique pets, yay!
Let's talk about the new 51 point BM talent, Beast Mastery!
The idea of taming such monstrosities such as the devilsaur has always been a dream to most hunters, myself included, and it seems like we are finally going to be able to do just that! Now from a raiding/min-max POV, it's a little hard to say how good this talent is actually going to be. The extra 5 talent points don't seem like much but it just might be powerful enough to hold its own. However, from an aesthetic point of view this talent is awesome. Players will now be able to easily distinguish between BM hunters since we are now getting awesomely unique pets, yay!
Monday, July 28, 2008
Misdirected now has Wowhead tool tips! What this means for those who are unfamiliar with this tool is that linked in-game items now have tool tips for easy viewing. For example: Sunfury
Friday, July 25, 2008
Hot Hardware
Hot Hardware is an a column about gaming peripherals, if you have any suggestions for future articles, please e-mail me!
The Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard
I picked up this nifty little keyboard a few weeks ago, no small decision on my part because even at the discounted price of $85 CDN (the lady at tiger direct thought it was on clearance, I know it wasn't!), it was a lot of money to spend on a keyboard. Still, I've been wanting one of these babies for a few years now and I'm really glad I picked it up, it is by far one f the coolest peripherals I've ever bought. So, let's take a look at what makes this keyboard s special!
The first thing anyone will notice visually is the size of this thing, it's a beast! Fortunately the second version, of which I own, has been reduced significantly from the original, therefore fitting easier onto most desks and pull outs. Aside from the main key set it also comes equipped with 6 "G" keys which can be macroed for game use, but more on the later. The keys are large and sturdy, which to be honest made them a little awkward at first as you really have to hit them, however once you get adjusted to them it really feels great. If your the violent type of gamer who likes to smash his keys, this baby can withstand the blows with ease.
The keys are also backbit in a nice orange color, with the option of switching from high to low to off with a single button press. Originally I was a bit disappointed that the new version has orange keys instead of blue keys like the original, but a lot of reviewers say that the orange color is easier on the eyes and less of a distraction. I'm not sure what the blue lit version was like on the eyes but this version offers no discomfort at all. Aside from generally looking cool, the backlit keyboard really helps for people, such as myself, who are nocturnal gamers.
One of the biggest draws to the keyboard is the LCD screen. Built into the keyboard is an LCD screen with several different programs to help run your computer. The keyboard also supports software for most popular games, including WoW. To be quite frank the game addons seem rather useless, for two reasons. Firstly, they don't tell you anything that you couldn't see on screen anyway, and secondly even if it did, it's hard to stay focused on two separate screens. The WoW applet offers several features, the first of which is a stat tracker showing the stats as seen on the character tab. The second feature alerts you whenever you receive a PM, and the final one, and the one of only real use, is a BG tracker showing team balance, your Honorable kills, killing blows, time elapsed, and position in the charts. However, while the WoW applet may be moderately useless, some of the other program ones are not. The most useful by far is the ventrillo applet, this helpful addon shows you who's in the channel, who's talking, and even has a PM feed. I find this one endlessly useful, especially when in raids and trying to discern who's speaking. The second useful applet is the media tool which shows you what song is currently playing and how far along it is. Tied into this feature is the media shortcut keys built around the LCD screen which allow for volume control, play/ pause & stop, and forward/backward. Overall the LCD screen is a nice touch, but it is definitely not a strong enough feature to make you want to go buy it on those grounds alone.
The macro feature is probably the main pull for this keyboard and the primary feature distinguishing it as a gaming peripheral. On the left side of the keyboard are six G keys, at the top of the keyboard there are three M keys which let you switch between three sets of G keys, ultimately allowing you to have 18 programmable keys (not to mention each key can have an alt- shift- or control- command making the total much larger). The keyboard also has a MR key which allows you to set up the macros with just the keyboard, bypassing the software option of configuration. For WoW purposes the extra keys are very helpful, after all, who doesn't need more programmable keys? Personally I have the keys set to various items such as mounts, emotes, and pots/ bandages. while it is possible to program them to attack keys I chose not to, if only because I'm already so familiar with tier placements. This function is a great reason to by this board, especially if you feel like you need more keys for all of you macro-whores out there!
The keyboard also has some nifty little odds and ends, such as two USB ports, a mute button, and a gaming switch which turns off the windows key so you can tab out of your games. Overall this is a nice piece of equipment, if your willing to put down the cash. It is in no way a required tool, and while the features it provides are nice, you can get by without them. However, if your looking for a feature rich keyboard and have some spare cash laying around then I would say go for it, I'm happy I did.
The Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard
I picked up this nifty little keyboard a few weeks ago, no small decision on my part because even at the discounted price of $85 CDN (the lady at tiger direct thought it was on clearance, I know it wasn't!), it was a lot of money to spend on a keyboard. Still, I've been wanting one of these babies for a few years now and I'm really glad I picked it up, it is by far one f the coolest peripherals I've ever bought. So, let's take a look at what makes this keyboard s special!
The first thing anyone will notice visually is the size of this thing, it's a beast! Fortunately the second version, of which I own, has been reduced significantly from the original, therefore fitting easier onto most desks and pull outs. Aside from the main key set it also comes equipped with 6 "G" keys which can be macroed for game use, but more on the later. The keys are large and sturdy, which to be honest made them a little awkward at first as you really have to hit them, however once you get adjusted to them it really feels great. If your the violent type of gamer who likes to smash his keys, this baby can withstand the blows with ease.
The keys are also backbit in a nice orange color, with the option of switching from high to low to off with a single button press. Originally I was a bit disappointed that the new version has orange keys instead of blue keys like the original, but a lot of reviewers say that the orange color is easier on the eyes and less of a distraction. I'm not sure what the blue lit version was like on the eyes but this version offers no discomfort at all. Aside from generally looking cool, the backlit keyboard really helps for people, such as myself, who are nocturnal gamers.
One of the biggest draws to the keyboard is the LCD screen. Built into the keyboard is an LCD screen with several different programs to help run your computer. The keyboard also supports software for most popular games, including WoW. To be quite frank the game addons seem rather useless, for two reasons. Firstly, they don't tell you anything that you couldn't see on screen anyway, and secondly even if it did, it's hard to stay focused on two separate screens. The WoW applet offers several features, the first of which is a stat tracker showing the stats as seen on the character tab. The second feature alerts you whenever you receive a PM, and the final one, and the one of only real use, is a BG tracker showing team balance, your Honorable kills, killing blows, time elapsed, and position in the charts. However, while the WoW applet may be moderately useless, some of the other program ones are not. The most useful by far is the ventrillo applet, this helpful addon shows you who's in the channel, who's talking, and even has a PM feed. I find this one endlessly useful, especially when in raids and trying to discern who's speaking. The second useful applet is the media tool which shows you what song is currently playing and how far along it is. Tied into this feature is the media shortcut keys built around the LCD screen which allow for volume control, play/ pause & stop, and forward/backward. Overall the LCD screen is a nice touch, but it is definitely not a strong enough feature to make you want to go buy it on those grounds alone.
The macro feature is probably the main pull for this keyboard and the primary feature distinguishing it as a gaming peripheral. On the left side of the keyboard are six G keys, at the top of the keyboard there are three M keys which let you switch between three sets of G keys, ultimately allowing you to have 18 programmable keys (not to mention each key can have an alt- shift- or control- command making the total much larger). The keyboard also has a MR key which allows you to set up the macros with just the keyboard, bypassing the software option of configuration. For WoW purposes the extra keys are very helpful, after all, who doesn't need more programmable keys? Personally I have the keys set to various items such as mounts, emotes, and pots/ bandages. while it is possible to program them to attack keys I chose not to, if only because I'm already so familiar with tier placements. This function is a great reason to by this board, especially if you feel like you need more keys for all of you macro-whores out there!
The keyboard also has some nifty little odds and ends, such as two USB ports, a mute button, and a gaming switch which turns off the windows key so you can tab out of your games. Overall this is a nice piece of equipment, if your willing to put down the cash. It is in no way a required tool, and while the features it provides are nice, you can get by without them. However, if your looking for a feature rich keyboard and have some spare cash laying around then I would say go for it, I'm happy I did.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Wrathful Thinking
Wrathful Thinking is a column about Wrath of the Lich King, our hopes, dreams, and concerns for the upcoming expansion.
I have to admit, when it comes to MMO's, I'm pretty vain. To me, the look of my character is almost as important as the the stats that accompany it. It's for this reason that I really dislike leveling, your character looks ridiculous until you start to acquire set gear. WoW in particular seems to suffer from this more than others due to the bright colorful clown suits they call armor. Unfortunatly with a new expansion heading our way we have no choice but to say good bye to our awesome looking set gear and hello to 10 levels of clown wear. That however, is not what I wish to write (complain) about. No, today is actually about the hunter armor design and how I would like to see it changed in the expansion.
As I see it there are two types of armor designs in the game, Plate armor and Cloth armor. In turn this makes everyone in the game look either like a warrior or a mage, which is pretty sad since theres a lot of potential for armor sets that can really flush out the style of particular classes. Now to express what I mean by "flushing out style", take a look at the warlock and druid armor sets. The cenarion set has a very earthy feel with leaves and branches, very much the naturalistic feel of the druid class. The warlock Malefic set is very demonic with its wings and horns, very much attune to the evil feel behind the class. Now I only wish that this design theory was spread throughout the other classes, particularly hunters.
Now to be honest, I do like the look of the current hunter sets, so I'm not complaining about them or how they look, I just feel that there is a lot of wasted potential for armor sets that reveal the feel behind the class. Firstly I think we should look at what exactly that "feel" is. Hunters are, as the name implies, hunters. Therefore I think furs and scales make pretty appropriate designs sicne hunters are often known for wearing their kills. I also don't mind the addition of mail, since we do wear it after all and even i don't want to see the class go from a total plate look to a total leather look. However when it comes to mail I think it would look best if worn underneath the furs and scales, mostly hidden but shown enough so it is still reasonably considered as mail armor. Horns, cameo patterns, and teeth are also pretty generic hunter motifs that I think would make great additions to adding some flair to the sets. It's also my opinion that the armor should proobabl avoid the clean and polished look, and lean more towards rustic and worn out, after all, hunters spend most fo thier time in the wilderness. Add all this in togather and throw in some blizzard flair and I think you would have one badass looking armor set.
Of course maybe I'm just being picky, but overall I really do hope that blizzard brings more theme and style to the new armor sets, especially since were leaving the space age of Outlands and heading back into the cruel Gothic world of Northrend!
I have to admit, when it comes to MMO's, I'm pretty vain. To me, the look of my character is almost as important as the the stats that accompany it. It's for this reason that I really dislike leveling, your character looks ridiculous until you start to acquire set gear. WoW in particular seems to suffer from this more than others due to the bright colorful clown suits they call armor. Unfortunatly with a new expansion heading our way we have no choice but to say good bye to our awesome looking set gear and hello to 10 levels of clown wear. That however, is not what I wish to write (complain) about. No, today is actually about the hunter armor design and how I would like to see it changed in the expansion.
As I see it there are two types of armor designs in the game, Plate armor and Cloth armor. In turn this makes everyone in the game look either like a warrior or a mage, which is pretty sad since theres a lot of potential for armor sets that can really flush out the style of particular classes. Now to express what I mean by "flushing out style", take a look at the warlock and druid armor sets. The cenarion set has a very earthy feel with leaves and branches, very much the naturalistic feel of the druid class. The warlock Malefic set is very demonic with its wings and horns, very much attune to the evil feel behind the class. Now I only wish that this design theory was spread throughout the other classes, particularly hunters.
Now to be honest, I do like the look of the current hunter sets, so I'm not complaining about them or how they look, I just feel that there is a lot of wasted potential for armor sets that reveal the feel behind the class. Firstly I think we should look at what exactly that "feel" is. Hunters are, as the name implies, hunters. Therefore I think furs and scales make pretty appropriate designs sicne hunters are often known for wearing their kills. I also don't mind the addition of mail, since we do wear it after all and even i don't want to see the class go from a total plate look to a total leather look. However when it comes to mail I think it would look best if worn underneath the furs and scales, mostly hidden but shown enough so it is still reasonably considered as mail armor. Horns, cameo patterns, and teeth are also pretty generic hunter motifs that I think would make great additions to adding some flair to the sets. It's also my opinion that the armor should proobabl avoid the clean and polished look, and lean more towards rustic and worn out, after all, hunters spend most fo thier time in the wilderness. Add all this in togather and throw in some blizzard flair and I think you would have one badass looking armor set.
Of course maybe I'm just being picky, but overall I really do hope that blizzard brings more theme and style to the new armor sets, especially since were leaving the space age of Outlands and heading back into the cruel Gothic world of Northrend!
Progression!
The last two weeks have been very busy for my guild as we have managed to progress much further into the raid content. Last night we managed to tackle down Anetheron, our first progress kill in awhile. To be honest it really didn't look like it was going to happen last night as we seemed to suffer from server issues and player mistakes. However, on our last push of the evening we were able to take him down, and finally push deeper into Hyjal. Tonight we take on Kaz´rogal , should be interesting!
We have also experimented in Black Temple this week as we tried to take on High Warlord Naj´entus. Unfortunately due to healers having to leave we only got in two attempts, however wee managed to get him down to below 60% twice, not bad for a first attempt.
So far I've really been enjoying the raiding experience provided by WoW, it's currently my my draw to the game. All I can say in contempt now is this: Hyjal. Waves. Reseting. GARGHHHH!
We have also experimented in Black Temple this week as we tried to take on High Warlord Naj´entus. Unfortunately due to healers having to leave we only got in two attempts, however wee managed to get him down to below 60% twice, not bad for a first attempt.
So far I've really been enjoying the raiding experience provided by WoW, it's currently my my draw to the game. All I can say in contempt now is this: Hyjal. Waves. Reseting. GARGHHHH!
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