22 through 24, experiences thus far, and abilities!

(Sorry for the lack of screenshots in this one. I'll get some for the next, I promise!)

Heyo! Sorry for the delay in our broadcast folk, one woman team and real life can really throw a spanner in the works. Anywho, lets get down to business shall we?

At this point, I'm begining to have a few mana troubles. Mana just isnt regenning as quick as it used to, and I'm spending it at an enormous rate in comparison to just 6 or 7 levels ago. New abilities such as Hand of Reckoning, Consecration and Exorcism are a real tug on mana, on top of the occasional need to heal.

Luckily there's a lot I can do about it! Ever heard of AoE grinding? Paladins can do it too, and its a really efficient way to get stuff done.

Slap on my shield, and my weapon, go round up a bunch of mobs (ones that dont cast spells, poison you, or shoot you with a gun/bow are preferable), and consecrate their asses into the ground. I can kill one mob in 7~ seconds, or I can kill 5-7 mobs in 20 seconds! This is mana intensive but it is efficient also.

Something else I can do about my mana consumption is get more intellect. Intellect is something you're going to love at higher levels. For now, all it does is give us 15 mana for every point as well as giving us a little extra spell crit.

It isnt easy (read: impossible outside of random BoEs) to find intellect on mail or even leather at this level, so I'll be trying to get it on my weapon, cloaks, rings.. that type of stuff. I'm not going to be afraid of it if it has spirit on it either, spirit scales okay at this level and serves to regen my mana a little whilst soloing. At the worst, if I must use cloth, I'll try to get cloth bracers, belts, boots or a helm with a decent amount of intellect on it. Armor is important though, so I'll be trying to avoid that.

Something else I can do to sort out my mana, while I'm in a healing role in a group, is get up close and personal and melee for Judgement of Wisdom procs. Each successful roll of the random number generator 3000 sees me restoring a percentage of my mana. Very important not to forget about healing though, which I've embarrasingly almost forgot to do once or twice.

Its important to remember that Paladins are NOT Priests. Despite being technically "defensive", there are many reasons for a Holy Paladin to play offensively in a PvE environment, especially at end game. Some of the best holy paladins I know (including myself, hurr) regen most of their mana through offensive purposes, rather than wasting cooldowns or mana pots.

Oh dear I've completely derailed off of the topic. Anyway, where was I?

Right. Something else I've been experiencing is that mobs are begining to hit a lot harder, which is resulting in me needing to toss the occasional heal now and then, especially whilst AoE grinding or even just attacking 2 or 3 mobs. Luckily, not skimping out on the armor or shield is keeping the damage low and managable, to a degree no one else could manage at this level save for a warrior, and.. they can't heal themselves.

And, outside of gameplay, something else I've come to understand is the following equation:


X = Any level below 70
Y = IQ of the average player
Z = 2 if the player is a DPS, 1 if they're a healer or tank.

(X=Y)/Z

People are -IDIOTS- at this level. Absolute BLITHERING IDIOTS. Practically everyone is a ninja, loot whore, jealous, butt hurt asshole. I was in a Deadmines group piecing together the parts required for my Verigan's Fist (I'll be making a post on that quest chain when I get to the end of it but so far its been rather unpleasant due to the playerbase), where I'd gotten lucky on a number of green BoE drops, for healing and tanking. I made sure no one else wanted the item in question before rolling. Anyway, we get to Van Cleef, kill him, and Cape of the Brotherhood drops! Ensuring the DPS warrior in our group didnt need the cape in question, I quite happy rolled need. A new tanking cloak, yay!

Or not.

Bubblebum rolls 54 on Cape of the Brotherhood
Butthurtpriesthealer rolls 76 on Cape of the Brotherhood.
Butthurtpriesthealer wins Cape of the Brotherhood.

Naturally, I remained calm. I'd assumed it may have been an error, I mean.. why would a PRIEST want agility? The 2 stamina.. meh? But no. "Ooh, it looks pretty. But.." The bitch disenchanted it -on the spot- because she claimed I won "75% of the instance drops". Thats just pot luck, and I made absolutely certain NO ONE else required the items I won.

So, a quick slash-ignore followed by a Hearth, followed by a good luck salute in party chat wishing them well on the last boss, and I was back in the Wetlands. I'm told their DPS warrior left the group, leaving the priest, a warlock and a rogue without a tank. I'm hoping they wiped though that isnt likely.

I've yet to find a Shadowfang Keep run for my Blacksmith Hammer though I've got the Kor Gem thing, so almost there.

Anyway, some of the items I've obtained, both within that DM run and without include...

Defender Cloak of the Bear (World BoE drop, from Deadmines) Using for DPS/Tanking
Defender Bracers of the Bear (World BoE drop, from AH) Using for DPS/Tanking
Impaling Harpoon (From Captain Greenskin, of Deadmines. Using for DPS
Fortified Boots of the Eagle (World BoE drop, from AH) Using for Tanking/Healing
Ring of Silver Might (Crafted by Jewelcrafters, Bought on the AH) Using for Tanking/DPS
Ring of Twilight Shadows (Crafted by Jewelcrafters, Bought on the AH) Using for Tanking/Healing
Polar Gauntlets (from Quest: Underground Assault) Using for DPS
Thief's Blade (from Mr. Smite of Deadmines) Using for Tanking
Rhahk'Zor's Hammer (From Rhak'Zor of Deadmines) Using for Tanking-if-the-healer-is-bored.

See Bubblebum's armory for what she's currently equipped in (Most likely the gear she uses for soloing).

ABILITIES!

Yes, its ability time. The following are abilities learned from the Paladin trainer at levels 22 and 24. And without further delay..

Concentration Aura - This aura is used mostly for PvP purposes, though sometimes used while you're tanking an add in a PvE encounter. It reduces the delay in casting recieved every time a mob whacks you whilst your casting abilities. Situationally awesome.. useless most of the time. Very important PvP ability though.

Seal of Justice - Not to be seen as an alternative to Seal of Righteousness, this is more a situational little tool for when you want to interrupt a caster, or even stop them in their tracks if their kiting you and you're still in melee range. Switch to this when you're up against a caster or healer, player or otherwise, and it'll stun them sporadically for a brief period of time. Unreliable but its all you've got to stop casts unless you're a Blood Elf other than Hammer of Justice. Also useful against melee if they hit particularly hard and you'd rather reduce that damage a bit without attempting to outright kill them.

And finally

Turn Evil - This is a handy little ability in PvP, as well as situationally being useful whilst soloing. Up against a warlock? Rather they'd not have the use of their demon for a bit? Fear it. Useful against Death Knights too, Death Knights which we'll cover much later.

Thanks for reading. Feel free to leave criticism, comments, and views in a comment. Twitter feed still down I'm afraid, its behaving oddly.

New post in the works

New post in the works. Sorry for the delay folks! Guild drama, real life stuffs.. y'know.

Expect it up some time this evening. 22 AND 24!

A brief notice

Been fairly busy recently with things on my main. I happen to be the Paladin Class Leader in my guild on The Sha'tar, as well as the fact that I've had some other things to catch up on, also. I will however be doing my best to update ASAP, at the -verrry- latest tomorrow evening.

I do appologize for the small delay in feed.

For now, feel free to check out the Zalgradis video I linked about 10 posts back, and leave your comments, suggestions and thoughts on anything related to that video, this blog, paladins, or whatever here. :)

Item of the Moment - Cookie's Tenderizer

Our second installment of IotM covers a weapon surely thought to be some sort of epic, powerful mace by the eyes of a Draenei, seeing as they've never seen such a blunt, heavy instrument. With 2 handles, it offers the ability to mix it up and around in combat, and the handle you're not using also acts as a rather "sharper" baton.

To anyone else, it's a rolling pin. Cookie's Tenderizer to be precise (It seems Murloc's have the same idea as Draenei regarding rolling pins, eh?)

I call it "Pinny"!

While there are better weapons with more appropriate icons (this things icon is a SPOOL OF THREAD) available from the Deadmines, this is nice and slow (speed isnt important at all for holy paladins yet, but I like big numbers), has 6 strength, and looks hilarious.

Level 23 at the moment, I've been slacking on purpose for the level 22 post as I want to shove a bit more "experiences" into it. I'll slap up a post for both 22 and 24 when I ding. Until then, feel free to leave your comments and opinions about Bubblebum, Holy Paladins, or what you'd like to see on this blog. (dont worry if you think I'll miss it, there's a nice handy column on the right of this post that shows all recent comments, so even if you posted in the very first post of this blog, I'd see it.)

Level 20+21 Greetinks vrom Stormvind!

Item Update: Caretaker's Cape from Illiyana Moonblaze, Silverwing Sentinel Quartermaster.
Level Update: 22
---

Yaaay, Brewfest!

Woo, last few levels have been a blast. I've learned some awesome abilities, which I'll outline later in the post, I've had some laughs, I've had some laughs directed at me by fucking morons, and I've had some not-so-laughs.

But where to start? Aaaah yes. I finished all my quests in Bloodmyst like a good little Paladin and earned my Tabard of the Hand! Every Tom, Dick and Harry (and the female equivelants of those names) showed up to kiss my big dark blue ass for saving theirs. Velen too! Velen predicts that there's a big future for me in Outland. No, duh, right?


I'd also dinged level 20 not shortly before this event, and gained access to my level 20 (they give these things out too early) mount! Will make things much quicker and easier though I worry about others my level having the same perk. Will it have much effect on PvP if everyone has the option to just mount up quickly and ride away to safety?

Speaking of which, it is about that time. Contested territory opens up at level 20, and I'm considering which route to go. Any thoughts? Was thinking Ashenvale, Duskwood never sees any PvP action. Hillsbrad might be fun too but then again it'll probably have more level 80s than people my actual level.

Anyway, after dinging 20, I decided to look for yet another Deadmines group. My second attempt went -horribly-, though luckily I wasn't summoned this time before it all went awry. I'd pulled 3 other people together for a grand total of 4 people, but then I DCed, which ended up passing leadership to one of the others. When I'd reconnected I unfortunately found a level 55 in the party, filling our 5th spot. Rather than kick up a fuss and start QQing, I humbly said "Thanks anyway, but I'd rather not be boosted. Appriciate it though and I hope you lot have fun!" or something to that effect, which would be where I left to continue my adventures.

Or not. Y'see, 12 year olds (and I'm only assuming they were that old because its the recommended minimum age) tend to have something called "puberty" about to kick in, and its when all that testosterone or feramone begins to flow around the body, creating what I like to call "Potential nerd rage". Like flies to dung, these idiots had to just start harassing me. Despite my best efforts, believing they may have misunderstood, I did my best to just reiterate what I meant, spelling it out in plain, good old english, politely and to the point, to which I only recieved various variations of "fuk uuuuu fuk uuuu mihahahaha" and "fuk offffffffffffffffffffffffffff". Beacons of Hope and Wisdom in an otherwise bleak, dreary and depressing world.
Wasn't all bad though. Vigilant and ever-ready, Bubblebum proceeded to form her own goddamned group and do it right this time, engaging in civilized, intellectual conversation with the people she invited to make sure they wern't fucking spacktards. And they wern't. They were awesome. To their credit, they were epics, each one of them earning a place in my friendslist. Except the warlock which hearthed to Stormwind and logged off before we began, she can go die, but the rest of you..

(I also dinged level 21 here, woop!)

Anyway, after Deadmines, I'd decided to travel to Stormwind, for some much needed recuperation and a chance to get this blog sorted. And.. bloody hell, I've seen some odd stuff already in the hub of the server. How about this.. someone boxing 10 shamans at ONCE. AT ONCE. I was lucky enough to grab her attention, and she'd agreed to pose up for some screenshots, which you can see below.

Ten synchronized, lovely, bouncing Draenei females dancing in tandem. What more could one ask for?

And.. thats when I decided to alt tab and stop slacking and get to work on this post. Since there really were no other experiences past this point other than the process of actually alt tabbing, I'll begin briefing our new level 20 abilities, which are no less fun to write about!

Sense Undead - Exxxcept this one. This one is bland. And rubbish. Very situational use... even less if you've got herbalism or mining.

Consecration - This is more like it. Our first proper AoE, this lays down a field of Holy Ground in a radius surrounding the Paladin that harms all enemies that dare to stand in it! Excellent for tanking purposes too. It -is- mana intensive though, so use carefully.

Exorcism - Can you say "Pewpew"? This thing -stinnngs-. Massive burst, moderate mana cost. Let down slightly by its cooldown but we can do a little something about that later on down in the Holy tree. For now, this puppy is much needed. Paired with Hand of Reckoning on a pull, you can do massive damage in a very short space of time, potentially before the enemy has even reached you.

Flash of Light - Your bread and butter heal. Low mana cost, fast cast time, and a moderate healing amount, this will serve you well up to 80, and beyond.

Thats it for abilities at level 20. Now let's check out some phat loots I've earned!

Cookie's Tenderizer from Cookie, in the Deadmines. (My first rare item!)
Simple Pearl Ring from the Auction House. It was cheap!
Signet Ring of the Hand from Quest: The Unwritten Prophecy
Goblin Mail Leggings BoE drop, from The Deadmines.
Corin's Handguards from Quest: Clearing the Way
Jessera's Fungus Lined Hauberk from Quest: Ysera's Tears
Wheel of Lost Hope from Quest: Ending the Bloodcurse (Awesome looking item, if only for the comical value)
Silk-threaded Trousers BoE drop, from The Deadmines.
And finally.. last but not least (should be first really, they look awesome..)
Flying Tiger Goggles from my very own Engineering!

That's it for now. Stay tuned for moar Bubblebum action!

dude GTFO u talk like u just discovered the internet

Level Update: Level 20! Expect a post up before the end of the day.
Item Update: Silvermoon Armor of the Sun, drop from Fenissa the Assassin (again).
Aboriginal Boots of the Eagle, BoE world drop. Two nice new drops for my healing gear! Loving the Silvermoon armor. Its very rare you find suitable healadin loot with the right armor class at this level.


So, my first DM group couldn't have been better than a bunch of pigs swilling around in their own shit. I throw myself up on LFG, and state that I'm willing to perform any role, healing, tanking or DPS. I get invited as a tank, and of COURSE, when I'm summoned, only then do I realize they've already cleared up to Sneed. Bah.

Then I make my demands very very clear on the group. I say that if they would like me to tank, they're going to have to give me room to do so. It might not be "Naxx Pre-TBC" as one of the smart arses put it, but wiping is -still- a possibility, and I DO remember wiping in DM due to shitty pulls, specifically in the smelting room with all the goblins.

I do pretty well, even when the party completely refused to listen to my demands. I found myself taking a couple of seconds between each pull to reprimand our cheeky warlock who seemed to think he could tank.

A couple of pulls go on like this, then I suddenly find myself groupless. "A mistake?", I think to myself? No. I check my chatlog.. and..

"ok kicking bubble cuz shes 2 slow".

Wut? Too slow? It'd have gone fine if you'd have done your job as group leader to warn the warlock, and indeed the rest of the group, to just play sanely and reasonably. Funnily enough, the joke was on them, as their very respectable shaman healer left afterwards, in protest, and offered to attempt to 2 man the entire instance with me. I was fuming however, and felt the need to log off for a moment to QQ on my blog.

Anyway, I whisper the guy to just make my opinion very clear in a polite a manner as possible. Chatlog below.

A shame. I'd have liked to have been able to say something about how great the run was. Even starting at Sneed wasnt that big a deal for me, though it's just common courtesy to tell the person you're inviting where in the instance you'll be starting from, surely?

Anyway, Antopus (What kind of guy names his Priest "Antopus"?). I've no idea who you are, no idea who you think you are (actually I have an inkling), and no idea where you come from but seriously... lulz.

Its not all bad though. I did manage to win a nice sword from trash. Militant Shortsword of the Monkey. Not ideal stats but it hits quite a bit harder than my previous sword so meh.

Gonna be a pain in the arse getting back to Bloodmyst though. My hearth is still set in Azuremyst. D'oh!

GOALDS and my Professions

Level Update: DING! Level 19!
Item Update: Jessera's Fungus Lined Bracers from Quest: Mac'Aree Mushroom Menagerie

Currently standing at 8 gold 7 silver, at level 18. All self generated, through AH manipulation and copper sales. :D

Profession skill levels are currently

Engineering: 109,
Mining: 96