Sideshow & Syrana

While Brajana at Mend Pet likes to help broaden our vocabulary with her WoW Word of the Week posts, we like to take a look each month at a little bit of gamer vernacular history.  (We do enjoy her posts and if you haven’t checked them out yet, I suggest you do so!)

Newbie/Noob

We’ve all seen this one.  Heck, we’ve probably all used it at one time or another.  But where did it come from?  The answer may surprise you.  The term ‘newbie’ has been around long before MMO’s and cyberspace.  It was actually used as a term in British public schools and the miltary to mean “new boy” or a new soldier in the unit.

This fits pretty well with the objective meaning of the word newbie.  With the advent of cyberspace interactions, it was a term used to identify someone new.  Often those who are new are given some slack for making mistakes.  However, that takes us into some of the variations of the word newbie.

(continue reading…)

(Part 16) For a complete list of this series, please go here.

Aly quickly scanned the people on the docks around her before veering off to the right of the Salty Sailor Tavern.  She worked her way through the crowd surrounding the auctioneers and was thankful to find the bank line almost non-existent.  The banker was a young Goblin female, who chatted casually while Aly withdrew a large backpack, clothing, and some other items.  Aly knew it was best to travel light, so she had learned how to take advantage of the banks throughout Azeroth.  It could be dangerous to travel with too much on her person, but it also raised too many suspicions to check into an Inn without any belongings to speak of.

She headed back to the Salty Sailor Tavern quickly, looking mildly relieved to see the same Goblin tending the bar as earlier.  After her encounter with Krizkix, she was so focused on getting checked in that she had forgotten to stop off at the bank.  As a quick cover, she had checked the light backpack she’d had on the boat with the bartender, saying she had forgotten her other pack on the loading dock.  Aly knew the Goblin may not have noticed or cared much about how much she traveled with, but there was no way anyone in the bar would believe she was checking in for over a week with practically nothing.

Details are always important, even if they are small, she said to herself. (continue reading…)

Per Ola Wiberg (Powi) @ Flickr.com

This is just a short and sweet post before I *crackles knuckles* get to tappin’ out tomorrow’s RP post.  I’m hoping everyone had a good weekend and a good Mother’s Day to those of you who are mothers.  This past week has been very exhausting for me and it feels like it has caught up with me today.

The first half of last week was very busy at work with accreditation stuff going on.  For any of you that have gone through that, you know how hectic that can be! For those of you who haven’t… just think of doing 2 years worth of paperwork prep (writing and rewriting policies and procedures, handbooks, training staff etc) to finally the moment of the “real exam” of peer reviewers coming to scope the place out and essentially quiz staff and clients.  And file audits.

Although that was all over with by Wednesday, it was like I didn’t really get a chance to breath at all last week while at work.  I was somewhat on edge all week and antsy.  So very antsy.  Plus, the weather has gotten to be more consistently gorgeous outside.

Over the weekend, Sideshow and I went out of town to visit my parents.  We made the 3ish hour drive right after work on Friday and came home Sunday evening.  This would be why there was nothing new on Saturday.  I’d gotten the screenshot for Sunday queue’ed up previously, but I didn’t have a chance to prepare something for Saturday.  So, it’s sorta felt like I’ve been nothing but “on the go” for the past week.

Today, I’m tired.  Very tired.  There’s so much I want to do and write, but it shall all come in time.  I almost wasn’t going to post anything today, but just wanted to give a “hey” to everyone.  So, I might need a bit of time this week to recoup… meaning… I can’t guarantee any epic posts this week.

Oh, and for those of you that have seen me tweet on Twitter about drawing… yep, I’ve been getting back into some drawing.  And… I can safely say that Syrana no longer looks like an alien!  But, I still need more practice and whatnot before I can draw us a new banner.

Oh! And I checked the site’s stats yesterday…. we’ve surpassed the 5,000 hits mark and I didn’t even realize it!

Last week’s recap

Last week I gave everyone a break on guessing and shared a fun screenshot of a 10man guild Archavon downing… as bunnies.

Introducing…

Let’s get back to the guessing game.  What is this supposed to be and where might you find it?

This comic is all too true, for me at least.  Sideshow sent it to me after the time I put into looking for information to link within my post about the controversial Noblegarden achievement.

Image courtesy of xkcd.

Last week I had a lot to say, it seemed, so I had to skip The Link Connection.  Let’s get crackin’ and see some highlights, shall we?

• Want to get a better handle on managing your minions? Check out this series at Melted Faces, starting with your (not so) trusty imp.

• Have you been trying to court Emalon with mixed results? Check out some tips, tricks, and discussion over at Killing ‘em Slowly.

• Tired of the same ol’ same ol’ come raid night? Itching to use that dual spec? Well, Darraxus switches roles and ponders the true meaning of “DPS.”

• One of the saddest quest chains in the game is apparently accessible only by the Alliance.  I think I will need to take an alt through this quest… just for the experience.  Thanks to WTT:[RP] for letting me know about it.

• Not pleased with your DPS performance lately? Take it from Windpaw, it’s time to take a deep breath and slow down.

• Children’s Week.  Love it or hate it, it’s got great mileage for roleplaying.  Thanks to Blogatelle for some fantastic ideas!

• For all of you that have pondered the meaning of Gnomeggedon… it is here.  (Now go say Happy Birthday!)

On a sidenote, I still can’t believe that the lot is vacant over at Out of Mana.  I didn’t want to believe it, but now… I can’t deny it any longer.  I kept trying to peek and see if Megan was hiding somewhere inside, but I couldn’t find her.  Good luck and best wishes to her. /salute

Random To-Do List (for those who may be wondering)

• Post May’s Word of the Month

• Continue Cultural Diversity in Azeroth series

• Syrana’s Affliction spec post 3.1 (long over due, I know!)

• Write a fantabulous story so I can win this contest

• Some guides of sorts

• Write something funny

*waves*

Watch it, she's a brawler!

Hey everyone!

Yes, I know, it’s the first Wednesday of the month.

Yes, I know, there should be some history and assorted information about a piece of gamer vernacular today.

But… Pixies are cute.

Yes, I said Pixies.  Stop looking at me that way!  I’m trying to explain why I didn’t get the Word of the Month post done for today (yet)!

(continue reading…)

(Part 15) For a complete list of this series, please go here.

“Unggah,” groaned an Elven woman, hugging her knees closer to her chest.  The woman huddled in the corner upon one of the wooden benches below deck, curled into a ball.  Her mind and stomach reeling and churning as the waves rocked and swayed the steamboat.  Her chestnut brown hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail.  A red and gold mask covered most of her face.

She laid her head against the wall, and partially closed her eyes.  With as much traveling as her work required, she still hadn’t found a way to overcome seasickness.  She knew she should allow herself to fall asleep, as it was about the only way to combat the nausea; however, she could not trust falling asleep here.

Just as she thought the worst of it had passed, the steamboat hit rough, choppy water.  Quickly she lunged for a nearby bucket, barely having the time to lift her mask before retching into it.

A raspy chuckle could be heard from a nearby passenger.  “I have something to help you feel better,” he flicked a couple dried leaves at her.  “Free of charge.  A… sample, if you will.” (continue reading…)

WTA, you are wondering? Want To Adopt, of course!  Seriously, the orphan NPCs are adorable.  Yes, even the little Orc boy.  He’s so ugly he’s cute, like an orangutan.  The cutest of them all has got to be the little Draenei girl though.  She’s is absolutely delightful.  I mean, I’m Horde and I’d still be willing to adopt that cutie patootie.  But, Blizzard, I ask you this… where are the orphans of the other races? I bet you little Tauren children are adorable.

Children’s Week – I Get a Pet, But Can’t Keep the Orphan

I’ve enjoyed Children’s Week in the past.  It was fun taking them around to see landmark sights and influential NPCs.  I’m kind of disappointed in the change to the Blood Elf girl’s quest.  I realize M’uru is no longer in Silvermoon, but the impact of her visit to the Caverns of Time just isn’t the same without the encounter with M’uru.  I’m glad I was able to experience it that way two years ago. (continue reading…)

Last week recap

Last week’s beware sign was indeed from Grizzly Hills as many of you had guessed!  Good job to all!

Introducing…

This week’s screenshot is not much for guessing, but for entertainment.  I mean, who woulda thought 10 little bunnies could take down Archavon?

Don't eat the bunnies, Maagrom!