Thoughts and Blogs

Another week

Blogosphere

One-Copper.com

Seth got a new site Good for him, I really like the theme and layout, and I expect with higher degree of freedom on the site, we’ll had more interesting thing going on there…
And the podcast, now that’s one is great, Although he did a little nervous on his first one, I guess tonight’s one will be great, Keep it on, Seth!

That’s remind me the time I get my own domain name. Someone told me that, I am so lucky that I can get a domain with my own name. It’s kinda reverse, I get people call me Zekta, after I got Zekta.com . A shorthand for my original 8-letter long net-name. My parent and friend call my Chinese name (and other nick name) anyway.
Uniqueness is what I am looking for when I am creating this name. So that Google will rank me higher for anyone who look for me (If anyone ever wanted to).

JMTC IRC

JMTC IRC, what’s more exciting than that… I feel so noob after I listen to the chat with some giant in JMTC forum.

A slip of thought pass thru my mind that I wonder if I should keep blogging. Nan, They really should start blogging, but until then, I am safe . (finger crossed) But then I’ll have great blog to read, That would be nice too, that’s okay…

My Business

Aka Time to Cut loss

The Arctic Fur and Titan Changes interrupted my purchase plan. Now, I got 3 set of Arctic Fur and some Titan Steel to unload. Should able to get them out before the 3.3 patch.

I get my hand on two epic BOE dropped in Ulduar, and I got no use of it. I noticed that the price drop when the new raid CD refresh (New supply I guess) I’ll keep that until Sat-Sun….

I really got not much to said about business and gold making lately. (Got tons of ideas from IRC chat though…)

My Raid

aka Gold Pugs are Loverly!

I Bought 2×245 upgrade from 25 ToC Normal. For 1k each. The Trinket and Main Hand sold for 6k each, I should get my hand on that next time. But since it’s my first bidding, I should test the water before jumping in. A side note, The [item]Trophy of the Crusade[/item] Sold for 4k each.

At the end of the pug, each person got 2.2k. Which my net payment is 200g (it’s more like wage than profit, since I worked for it) With gemming and enchant, it’s even. (I am not using epic gem, since it’s 100% price, but only get 10-20% increase in stats)

I would said it’s even better than a “roll pug”. Chances of getting upgrade much lower (and Much inefficient), since rival-role player will roll on a minor upgrade, since it cost them nothing.

Note-to-self: I should talk more about gold-pug later on.
That’s a “short” update for this week
Happy Hallow End

No, not that –> [item]Advanced Target Dummy[/item] < — ….

It’s those Dummies those Dpser enjoy hitting.
Why there aren’t any Dummies for Healer and Tank…
No, I am not accepting technology excuse for that.

Reason #1328: Why Healing is hard
I can’t learn or test out my healing spec without risking people’s life.
And, Even in real time action, it’ll probably like feeling rather than an experimental result.

“Heal someone, or heal youself for the HPS.” Some might suggest
This is not working, take shaman as example
1. Blessing of Eternal : Chance earthliving become 100% (When Target at low health)
2. Chain Heal stop when there is no target in range
3. Ancestral Awakening: Heal some one in 40 yard range, effective noone!

And, where can I learn about healing?
5 man heroic is a piece of cake, since everyone is outgearing them
And In raid, there always are some outgeared healer around.
Also I am well aware how some skill combo each other, I just need to learn that as a reflex…

The Solution

The only solution so far, is : M&S…
/yay finally got an use of them

I can keep up the group with 1-2 M&S, which effectively leeching my mana, for healing those unnecceasrry damage and over pulling couple of trash together.

Carrying M&S is the only option for healer to face any difficulties hard enough for them to earn that skill.
While I avoid meeting M&S at all cost, Running PUG Heroic Daily designated you meet such situation once a week.

QQ: Blizzard, please give us some dummy to heal. So that we can work out our “rotation” or talents.

I am not called "Healer"

From the Boring Heroic PUG, this song run through my head couples of time
(In my own version of lyrics of course)

Healer – That’s Not My Name

They call me ‘Heal’
They call me ‘Resto’
They call me ‘her’
They call me ‘Res’
That’s not my name
That’s not my name
That’s not my name
That’s not my name

They call me ‘Healbot’
But I’ve got my Totem
‘Resto Shaman’ / ‘Hero-i-sm’
Always the same
That’s not my name
That’s not my name
That’s not my name
That’s not my name

I miss the heal if they hit me at all
I’m the first kid getting into the group
Keep up, falling, these heals they keep me boring
Getting Earthshield up and standing at the back now

So alone all the time at back
Charge up blue bars
Listen to me, I’m OOM
Although I’m dry up, out and all with
Everything considered they forget my name
(ame, ame, ame)

Last Tuesday, I was running a Hall of Lightning with a PuG

Our team was cutting through the mob,
And eager to revenge for Thorium.

The Tank was doing a decent job; the dpsers were doing a nice job as well…
Everything was fine, except the healer was doing nothing,
Not even a single heal was tossed to the group.

Desperately for their ally to fill up their green bar,
They wait and wait, but none of the prayer had a respond…
And the group was slaughtered by the angry boss again and again…

Was the healer pissed off by the group?
Oh, wait; I was the restro shaman…

I was the healer…

Why I would do that to my group mates, Isn’t I a horrible person to do that?
What was I doing?

Because I was staring the god damn loading screen
When my client keep dc me!

This is the most horrible dc happened to me…
(The last on is dc when we’re fighting Thaddius in Naxx)

The most horrible part is…
When I cast Res, I dc…

When we start aggro the boss, I dc…
Not a moment before, but by the time the boss is aggro ed

Last Act

The last sequence of the Hall of Lightning that night
1. Tank asked if I am okay
2. I reply “Okay So far”
3. He pull
4. I dc
5. Loading screen
6. Bodies on ground…

The group found a replacement for my position,
After apologies, I leave the group…
With guilty and emptiness… (Not very goblin of me on this)

As a Geek

The DC wave had stroked Larisa, Gnomeaggedon,
And now its Aggro table turned to me

I would convinced myself that this isn’t my fault
(It’s the goddamn computer/patch/software)

But as a computer geek myself, I find that unacceptable.
I already did some virus scanning and system config,
Clean up the dust inside, double checked every cable.
I even installed a new network card

Finger Crossed

Now
I removed my WTF (Who on earth in Blizzard think up this name anyway?),
WDB folder and Add-on now…

Update: it didn’t ruin my first raid, hopefully it had go away now….

Spaces are not created equal
Some space is more useful than others.
No, I am not talking about profession bags. That would be too trivial (It’s still trivial for some trader though).
When it comes to trading there are different types of space.

1. Backpack
Backpack space is most useful, since all your traffic from AH is on your bags, All the mail first go into your bags. Here is a tip: Consider having different bag for switching
My Glyph and AH alts had both normal bags and glyph bags, in case I need to route my traffic to other alts. I can change an empty glyph back to a normal one, and switch back to glyph bags after.
2. Bank Space Slot
Bank space is second most valued, because of the ability of switching; you can switch a bag from your bag directly with one in the bank slot. This is the Dual spec of you backpack.
Use other means for long term storage, if you do this a lot. (E.g. My shaman main will also do some auction posting; I’ll switch her normal bag with the 3 scribe bag in the bank, and switch back after posting)
3. Mail box Space
The beauty of Mail box is that it’s near infinity. The Cons, only the top 50 mail can be retrieved (No random access beyond that), and risk for out dated mail to be lost if you are not careful. It takes a long time to clear out the storage, and block your traffic as well.

4. Auction Hall Space
It’s a specialized storage, for low deposit cost goods, you can actually store your material on AH! One of my friends stores all his enchanting material stock on AH. He set an overpriced price of each component. If anyone request an enchant, he cancel those auction. And a plus, if anyone buy his overpriced material.

5. Guild Bank
The first 3 tab is much cheaper than an alts’ bank. Good for storage for a long term investment. As mentioned bank space is better for switching, from a trader, it easy to over stock goods. This should be your largest temporary and long term storage (Though Gevlon against long term storage, since the econ is always deflating. That would be another post)

I come to notice that Sarainy had two similar post about the very topic.

But since I already finished this one, and scheduled this, I am not going to trash this…
This post is more on trader’s perspective than storage. There will be another post about the different (if this is not too trivial)

Be sure to visit Sarainy for some complement information I missed.

Dear Arelas,

Although you are known as a long air bag, (And your Ancestor screw us all, Bad High Elf)
I must Appreciate your courage and persistence. Being Level 75, standing in the Coluseum with hostile 80 lv Hordies and  the Famous Black Knight (Even the Battleworg there can tear you into pieces…).

Your Sacrifice Will Not Be In Vain.
Your countless death fertile our gear score.

Regards and Memorial

Notus (My Shaman’s  name)

Time Line

29 Sep, Ding 80

5 Oct, Superior (A little bit too fast and easy, don’t you think?)

Total Spending :  3.5k , for Enchanting, Geming and the BoE gear .
Semi-Vanity Spending: 5k for Epic Flying. (Dropped [item]Reins of the Bronze Drake[/item] in CoS)
Grind : 8+ Normal ToC, 3 Heroic ToC, Couples of Heroic and Mr. DireBrew

Now, I am 200+ purple (Except the Main Hand) with 2100+ Sp… Time to start some raiding, (or Gold Pug).
I also joined a progressive Raid (Top 4 in my server).
And hopefully start my Raiding soon…

I did some grinding, and no boosting from anyone.
As a Healer, I wait no more than 10-15 mins for any PuG. And my job only get easier as my gear progress and I learn more about the skill of my class.

(I would attach my Armory link here soon, but here is a list)

Head [item]Gaze of the Somber Keeper[/item]
Neck [item]Symbol of Redemption[/item]
Shoulders [item]Pauldrons of the Deafening Gale[/item]
Chest [item]Carapace of Grim Visions[/item]
Waist [item]Girdle of the Dauntless Conqueror[/item]
Legs [item]Leggings of the Bloodless Knight[/item]
Feet [item]Revenant’s Treads[/item]
Wrist [item]Bindings of the Wicked[/item]
Hands [item]Gloves of Dismal Fortune[/item]
Finger1 [item]Titanium Spellshock Ring[/item]
Finger2 [item]Signet of Purity[/item]
Trinket1 [item]Tears of the Vanquished[/item]
Trinket2 [item]Ancient Pickled Egg[/item]
Back [item]Wispcloak[/item]
MainHand [item]Gavel of the Brewing Storm[/item]
OffHand [item]Iron-bound Tome[/item]
Ranged [item]Steamcaller’s Totem[/item]
Tabard [item]Tabard of the Wyrmrest Accord[/item]
Shirt [item]Tuxedo Shirt[/item] *A trader should always in formal dressing
Health: 18815
Intellect: 1151
Spell Power: 2357
Mana: 21381
MP5: 556.1479
Heal Spell Crit: 38.41%

/bye leveling
/hi endgame, again…

My Shaman dinged 80 while flying in the cold peak of the storm…

I had stopped raiding for around 3 months
And now I am ready to come back…

With much more gold for my expense, and as one of the High demand role, the healer (I did had a lv 80 healadin but she is on the horde faction).

This time, I don’t need to grind nor be in the pathetic Pug…. for long…

Being healer as a Healadin, is an eye opening thing for me, as I was always play as a Damage Dealer before. I saved much time on finding pug, and I can ask bad player to leave, which would be the wildest dream of a DD. As I am confident of the answer of “He or me, your choice?” now.

I had some BOE gear purchased, Crafted, and 40 Flask of the Frost Wyrm sitting in my bank.
I’ll be back in no time.

Once my gear is complete (From ToC), I’ll join a progressive raid for Normal Ulduar (Overgeared according to Gevlon’s Achievement ).