WoW Economy

I've always been stagnant when it comes to cashflow, until Wrath. I've never been rich. I've never owned an epic flying mount. Never really farmed materials in general. The gold I got was from instancing and selling what few greens I got here and there. Nine out of ten times, it went to repair costs for that raid.

Yet here I am, not rollin' in green, but doing quite well. I've made about 4k gold in the past week. I'm extremely excited seeing most of my items (mainly ore and leather) sell within 5 minutes of posting them. Only one problem... I can't sell them at the same prices on a consistant basis!

"If desire for goods increases while its availability decreases, its price rises. On the other hand, if availability of the good increases and the desire for it decreases, the price comes down."

I don't remember where I read this quote. I actually have this written in one of my notebooks from college. I'm sure it was on a test or something...

I know all about supply and demand, I've taken numerous macro/micro economics courses throughout my collegiate career. Thing is, stability is so far off on Stormrage that being able to even forcast prices is out the window. It's distressing seeing a stack of saronite ore selling for 85g, then 20 minutes later selling for 55g, and the next day selling for 110g. Trying to stay competitive and on top of the game is damn near impossible (unless of course you can play 24/7; which I can't). To top that, Titansteel - originally selling for 550g - is now selling for 350g, yet the price for Eternal Fire hasn't dropped one inch... and that price shift on titansteel? OVERNIGHT!

/sigh

Update!

The DK hit lvl 80 this morning around 2am (insomnia ftw!). I'm very much enjoying the DK, and enjoyed questing thus far. Wrathgate is the best questline in WoW. I've only managed to get through Sholizar Basin (sp?), so I still have Storm Peaks and Icecrown (watch out Arthas!). I absolutely LOVE Army of Undead. It's not that great of an ability, as the ghouls do little damage, but having 8 of them smash some face in Wintergrasp was pretty entertaining.

I did spend some time with different talent specs while leveling to 80. I've enjoyed tinkering around with them and with my current focus being PvE, I've found a home with a Frost-hybrid build. It allows me control in PvE and still is viable for the world/BG PvP. I'd be glad to link my spec, but unfortunatly the IT guy's here don't allow gaming websites to be accessible (will post it later).

I had my first tanking experience last night as well - Gundrak. This is the 4th or 5th instance I've run in Wrath, and I do enjoy the fact that it doesn't take more than 30-40 minutes to clear instances. Blizzard has done wonders for both casual and raiding guilds alike with these changes.

Going from warrior to paladin to death knight as a tank is... well... awkward. All three classes vary so much when it comes to gearing them and mastering their abilities. The DK rotation is a bit difficult, especially on multi-mob pulls.

Currently I normally start with:
Icy Touch/Strangulate (depending on what I'm pulling)
Plague Strike
Pestilence
Blood Boil
Howling Blast
Using the Dark Command and Death Grip to grab those that may run/are targeting group members.

With my spec I also have Death Rune Mastery, which allows for my Obliterates/Death Strikes to grant additional Death Runes on striking. I think this is where my rotation goes sour. I normally lose track of where I'm at, and start spamming abilities - I need to work on this.

Single target mobs are much easier in terms of rotations, and I've not really had that much of an issue with mitigation. I think it's more of an active roll - with Icebound Fortitude, and for me Unbreakable Armor - on when to use them to be most effective. If I pop both of these with Lichborne, I'm pretty much self sufficient for 10-15 seconds, not needing much in the way of healing.

On single targets:
Icy Touch
Plague Strike
Blood Strike x2
Frost Strike - queue Rune Strike
Obliterate
Frost Strike
Rune Strike as available per Runic Power

More updates tomorow. Work has picked up quite a bit.

On 'casual' raiding

There has been quite a stir worldwide in the past few days regarding SK Gaming and Nihilium's "finishing of Wrath content".

I've stumbled across another blog that pretty much sums up my feelings:

http://mordiceius.com/2008/11/21/the-difficulty-of-raids-or-why-care-about-nihilumsk-gaming/

With that said, [Fun N Games] on Stormrage is currently recruiting!

Idle time

So the DK is still lvl 77...

I refuse level more until I can afford to get the epic flight training for him (3000g to go =/ ). So I've decided to level up his tradeskills a bit. I'm a little upset Blizz decided to give us Artisan First Aid, but no other artisan training (hell even just a gathering profession). I took Mining and Skinning. Not really sure why I took skinning... I suppose to assist one of my alt shaman's leatherworking.

I've taken a look at the Blacksmithing items and WOW that's pretty amazing stuff. Only problem is, smithing from 1-300 is HORRID to level. Finding ore/bars on the Stormrage AH is like trying to find a non-fury warrior on our server... and when you actually do find some, they are normally over priced (or complete garbage in the case of the tank warriors).

I'm thinking that changing from skinning to Blacksmithing on the DK may be something to consider, since they can add sockets to items on the bracers/gloves. I just don't see the extra .56% crit from Master of Anatomy really playing a role in end game tanking/dpsing. The only real bonus would be to craft extra leg armor kits or other LW items on the alt shaman. *shrug*

I enjoy the hp buff immensly though. Frost Presence gives 10% hp bonus and effectivly that adds 550 hp - for grinding, arguably, the best gathering profession (for profit and use).

Embracing death...

I've embraced... death.

So here I am. Ermangus - LvL 77 death knight.

Yes, I took the plunge... from the Light, holy and pure - to the dark, sinister and fanatically evil. Once a paladin, devout and just; seeking to purify and cleanse, smiting the hordes of undead... to the epidiment of evil, a knight of pure hatred, bending destruction and chaos to my own whims.

I took off 6 days to enjoy the new expansion. I was in all sorts of moods at midnight Thursday. I really didn't know what I should do! I felt originally that Blizzard was nuts to release the 2nd expansion so soon. I had so much to yet accompish on Uthanc and my other alt toons. I just felt overwhelmed! Those thoughts quickly went out the door.

I as I sat there staring at the install screen, reading over the information in the small packet given with the game (lore freak here), I was contemplating if I should log in the paladin. I happend to be talking to a guildie on ventrilo who was going to roll a DK. I had a Wrath beta invite a while back, but never followed through with it. I knew little of the death knight class. I pondered if I ultimatly rolled a DK, would I just be another paladin quitter? A so called "one of the masses" who just gave up? I didn't really want that tag, I don't appreciate being labeled a 'lemming' (or anything for that matter). But I have to admit, I'm loving it!

Even from the begining, you could tell the DK was something special. Having the Lich King himself periodically whisper extremely dark and sinister thoughts to you (actual in game verbal sound.. amazing; and bone chiling!) was something that really got to me. I felt like I was a part of the game itself! Arthas was speaking to ME!

Blizzard really has learned a lot. The new 'phasing' system is brilliant. As you progress through the different quests, you phase into another part of the initial start zone. All of the NPCs are very unique and the questing itself took on a whole new aspect (not only in the start zones, but later Northrend zones as well). I personally enjoyed the fact there was a quest to duel other DKs. You could duel NPCs or players and still get credit.

There will be more to come over the next few days regarding my thoughts from 55 to 77. Overall I'm extremely impressed and excited with my new main.

Have you embraced death?