I have been running Heroics almost religiously since the new and improved Dungeon Finder was released by Blizzard. Rewards are great, the action is fast, and it provides a nice steady income of gold. The down side is some of the dungeons themselves. Oculus was a big group breaker and would “pop” too many times, but was fixed by Blizzard Bribery.

The new one I see pop way too often is Old Kingdom (O.K.). I have been getting O.K. once a day for the last week and half! Coincidence or maybe some evil Night Elf Hunter plan, well maybe. Either way Blizzard has decided to bring the nerf hammer down and address some player issues. Here is the quote from Blizzard;

Ahn’kahet, the Old Kingdom
With that said, we plan on making some changes to The Old Kingdom in the next minor patch. For instance, Elder Nadox will only get one Ahn’Kahar Guardian and Jadoga Shadowseeker will only use her Ascend ability once during their respective encounters. In addition, a couple of the stagnant groups of bad dudes between the Befouled Terrace and The Desecrated Altar will be removed, while some of the roaming groups will have their pathing altered. These changes are not to make this instance easier, but rather to make it a slightly quicker run and more in line with some of the other Wrath dungeons.
Nexus
I think you mean Anomalus. Yes, he will use his Create Rift ability less often. [...] we’re continuing to learn that time and difficulty aren’t synonymous measurements. For instance, Anomalus could use his Create Rift ability 20 times before you could kill him if we wanted to make it so. This would increase the encounter’s difficulty by a negligible amount, the hardest part of which would be staying awake.

The Culling of Stratholme
We plan to do something to allow players a quicker start to this dungeon, however, the fix to the scripting is more complicated than the changes we’re making to some of the other dungeons and likely will not be ready for the next minor patch.

I, for one welcome these changes. Anything that makes these old dungeons speedier, not necessary easier also makes them more fun. With cataclysm rumored to be out later this year, I foresee many improvements and changes coming our way.

The new dungeon finder for World of Warcraft has been a large success from Blizzard. Most of the player base seems to approve. The new tool has given dungeons a new level of accessibility to Heroics. Of course some dungeons are not as popular as others. If you guess Oculus you are correct. For some reason the majority of players hate Oculus, however I know a few out there actually enjoy it. I have joined many random dungeon groups to have the group unanimously yelp “Oh no not occ…” or “Oh Fuuuudddgggeee! (except he didn’t say Fudge). As usual Blizzard has noticed this trend and implemented a bribery system to those brave or foolish enough to endure it. Here is the post from a dev:

To encourage players not to shy away from the many invigorating adventures to be had in The Oculus, we have applied a change to enhance the rewards players are provided when selected for this dungeon via the Random Heroic option in the Dungeon Finder. Once Ley-Guardian Eregos is defeated, one loot bag per character will be provided in his chest in addition to the current rewards. Each loot bag will offer players rare gems, two additional Emblems of Triumph, and a chance of being rewarded the Reins of the Blue Drake. These fine treasures could be yours should you honor your fellow party members by besting the challenges contained within The Oculus! Keep in mind, however, that these extra loot bags will only be awarded to each party member if Oculus is selected by the Dungeon Finder when players choose the Random Heroic option.

So get out there and accept your bribery like a true warrior.

Christmas may be over but the holiday events are still going on. New years is a big celebration in World of Warcraft. Here is the description of the holiday from Blizzard:

Another year is ending in the rich world of Azeroth. Countless battles have been fought, and numerous accolades achieved. It is time to laud victories and give remembrance to those lost. In celebration of the old year’s passing and anticipation of the new, skilled brewers and talented pyrotechnicians have brought their finest creations to the bustling cities; join the party underway and ring in the New Year with your fellow adventurers!

Type: Holiday Event
Date: December 31st – January 1st
Location: around Azeroth

Fireworks

The innovative and artistic engineers of Undermine have been slaving away since their display of pyrotechnics in July. Their latest and greatest — not to mention highly dangerous to operate — creations will be on display in the cities of the world every hour after sunset. Keep your eyes to the skies, and be sure to stick around for the finale!

Potent Potables

What good is a party without sampling some of the brewers’ delicious work? Kegs of the finest brews are available in the cities of Azeroth, bringing good cheer as we bid farewell to the old year. Cups are available for all party-goers; simply pick one up and fill up at the keg to warm your belly and lift your heart!

Revelers, All

Many soldiers formerly abroad have come home to engage in the festivities. Share in the merriment and dance with the revelers, or, if you’re so inclined, blow a kiss to one that catches your eye. It’s all in fun, after all; they appreciate the attention!

Winter Veil is almost over in Azeroth. If you have not done so yet, head over to Orgrimmar and Ironforge and grab your gifts from under the tree. Each of your characters can receive gifts, but hurry it all ends on January 2. 2010.

Here are some of the activities athat you can accomplish in World of Warcraft before its all over.

Greatfather Winter Greatfather Winter is visiting the great cities of Ironforge and Orgrimmar – courtesy of the fine folks of Smokywood Pastures and he’s spreading cheer in celebration for the Feast of Winter Veil. But, all the cheer-spreading is making Greatfather Winter hungry, and he’s looking for adventurers to get him his daily fix of milk and cookies.
Winter Veil Bosses The denizens of the dungeons of Northrend are also getting into the holiday spirit, and some dungeon bosses even wear festive Winter Hats just like Greatfather Winter’s. Defeat a Winter Veil boss, and the boss’s hat is yours! Winter Veil bosses of Northrend: Grand Magus Telestra (The Nexus) – Red Winter Hat Jedoga Shadowseeker in (Ahn’Kahet: The Old Kingdom – Red Winter Hat Mage-Lord Urom in (The Oculus) – Green Winter Hat
Revelers During the Feast of Winter Veil, the innkeepers bring out holiday decorations to provide a festive atmosphere for their patrons. Who knows what might happen if you /kiss a reveler standing near a sprig of mistletoe….
Gift-Giving In the quiet, early hours of the 25th of December, the industrious goblins of Smokywood Pastures are already awake. As a much-deserved reward for the noble adventurers throughout Azeroth, these generous harbingers of the holidays deposit gifts underneath the decorated trees in Orgrimmar and Ironforge. Keep a keen eye out for these presents, as they’re there for the taking! Starts: December 25 Ends: January 2
Metzen the Reindeer Disaster has struck! Metzen the Reindeer has been kidnapped! Metzen is one of Greatfather Winter’s eight reindeer – and property of Smokywood Pastures. The Jinglepocket Goblins have received two ransom letters from groups claiming to have Metzen. Concerned adventurers should visit Ironforge or Orgrimmar for more information.
Smokeywood Pastures’ Missing Shipment Smokeywood Pastures needs a few brave adventurers to investigate the disappearance of a shipment of holiday goods. Rumors are the shipment are in the possession of the Abominable Greench, found somewhere in the snowy regions of the Alterac Mountains.
Jinglepocket Goblins’ Fare Shops The Jinglepocket Goblins have set up their seasonal fare shops in major cities. Adventurers can purchase many holiday favorites – including Greatfather’s Winter ale, candy canes, gingerbread cookie recipes, and mistletoes.
Snowballs Whether you pick them up from your local vendor or ask a friendly engineer to craft them for you, no feast of Winter Veil is complete without some frozen projectile-weapons. Get your mitts on some snowballs and say, “Merry Feast of Winter Veil” the old-fashioned way!
Snowmen Accompanying Greatfather Winter in his journeys across Azeroth are his loyal troops of snowmen. They can be found wandering around Ironforge and Orgrimmar, bringing with them the chill breath of winter into even the warmest climates.

The new Dungeon Finder tool, promotes the joining of random pugs to receive gold and emblems. There is also an achievement tied directly to the dungeon finder.

When your character completes the “Looking For Multitudes” achievement you will receive this cute little pug as a companion in Azeroth. To complete this achievement, your character must have used the Dungeon tool to group with a total of 100 random players to successfully complete random heroic dungeons. After completing the achievement, you will immediately receive this pet in your mailbox sent by the Blizzard Development Team. Go out there, meet some strangers on the internet and receive a pug.

The newly updated Looking for Group (LFG) Tool in World of Warcraft is,… well Wow! Pardon the pun, but the tool is just that good. In the old days, raiding was the only way to access high level dungeons to attain epic gear. Blizzard realized that only a small, (very small population) of players actually had the chance to enter these epic encounters. Blizzard decided to make these encounters more accessible to a broader audience. Throughout this year and last they have made improvements that would allow the average player a chance to enter these dungeons. The greatest innovation, in my humble opinion, has been the LFG tool or now known as the Dungeon Finder.

The Dungeon Finder supports cross realm groups, teleporting directly into the dungeons and a few other features. Here is a breakdown of those features;

Dungeon Finder

• This feature has replaced the Looking For Group tool and provides all-new dungeon party creation functionality.
• Players can join as individuals, as a full group, or a partial group to look for additional party members.
• Groups using this tool will be able to teleport directly to the selected instance. Upon leaving the instance, players will be returned to their original location. If any party member needs to temporarily leave the instance for reagents or repairs, they will have the option to teleport back to the instance.
• Players can choose the Random Dungeon option.
• The Heroic Wrath of the Lich King Daily Random Dungeon option will award two Emblems of Frost no more than once a day.

• The normal Wrath of the Lich King Daily Random Dungeon option will award two Emblems of Triumph no more than once a day.
• Continuing to complete Wrath of the Lich King Heroic instances using the Daily Random Dungeon option will award players two additional Emblems of Triumph each time.
• Daily Heroic and normal dungeon quests have been removed. These quests have been replaced with weekly raid quests (see the “Quests” section for details).
• Level-appropriate rewards will be offered to players who choose the Random Dungeon option for pre-Wrath of the Lich King dungeons.
• Players can be placed in a group for a random dungeon no more than once every 15 minutes.
• Random Dungeon rewards will be placed in each player’s inventory automatically upon completion of the dungeon (final boss killed). A pop-up notification will display any rewards earned through the Dungeon Finder.
• Instead of choosing a random dungeon, players can also choose specific dungeons appropriate for their level range. Multiple instances can be selected at one time. The feature no longer limits the choice to look for only 3 dungeon groups at one time.
• Pick-Up Groups
• Cross-realm instances are now available and use an improved matchmaking system to assist players in looking for additional party members. As with Battlegrounds, the realms in each Battlegroup are connected.
• As part of the matchmaking system, some of the more difficult dungeons will have a minimum gear requirement. Players also need to meet the requirements for dungeons that require attunement, such as keys or quests. If a player does not meet the requirements for a particular dungeon, a lock icon will be displayed next to that dungeon. Hovering over this icon will display the requirements which have not been met.
• Only conjured items and loot dropped in a dungeon for which other party members are eligible can be traded between players from different realms.
• A Vote Kick feature will be available in the event a member of a party is not performing to the expectations of the other members.
• Players who leave the group prematurely are subject to a Deserter debuff preventing them from using the Dungeon Finder for 15 minutes.
• If an existing group loses a member, the leader will be asked if he or she wants to continue the dungeon. Choosing to continue will automatically place the group back into the Dungeon Finder queue.
• A Player will not be placed in a group with people on his or her Ignore list.
• Players who take part in groups who have one or more members who have been matched with them randomly from within the Dungeon Finder will receive extra rewards, up to and including the coveted Perky Pug non-combat pet. The more random players with whom one groups, the faster the pet can be obtained.
• The Need Before Greed loot system will be the unalterable default looting system for pick-up groups in the Dungeon Finder and has been updated.
• Need Before Greed will now recognize gear appropriate for a class in three ways: the class must be able to equip the item, pure melee will be unable to roll on spell power items, and classes are limited to their dominant armor type (ex. paladins for plate). All items will still be available via Greed rolls as well as the new Disenchant option should no member be able to use the item.
• Players will be able to roll on items with a required minimum level higher than a player’s current level.

This system provides access to better gear through the badge system for almost all the player base. This is a step in the right direction, as well as slightly addicting. Have fun and good luck in your travels.

Account security is important in today’s online games. More so with the world’s most popular MMO; World of Warcraft. I have written previously regarding the Blizzard Authenticator.Yet for some reason there are people out there who still do not have this little gem. Well now blizzard has sweetened the deal.

The Blizzard store has waived the shipping costs of the authenticator. Right now you can purchase this device for 6.50, yep just six bucks and change. Not enough you say? How about Blizzard changes the art on the device to a more colorful picture. Wow still not enough? Fine you people drive a hard bargain, order the authenticator and you will receive an in game pet for each and everyone of your characters.The pet is none other than the core hound pup. Come on it has two heads! Click on the above link and there ya go. Have fun.

Happy Birthday to you, my old friend World of Warcraft. WoW has now been around for five years ! That is a nice feat for an online game.  Over the years its customer base has drastically increased to make it the most played, most popular game of all time. As a thank you gift from Blizzard when a player logs in to their WoW accounts they will receive an online pet; the Onyxia whelp.  The pet is account bound and available to all characters that log in. This cute little whelp will be your companion during your travels.  So log on, claim your pet and have fun. Here is a pic of the lil guy:

One of my favorite World of Warcraft commercials has always been Mr. T and his Night Elf Mohawk. Blizzard as part of their five year anniversary has added the Nelf Mohawk grenade.

The Nelf Mohawks are outside every races starting zone. Go visit the Mohawk himself, make him “pity the fool” and he will give you five grenades. You can go back and acquire more once you run out.

Throw the grenade at another player and everyone in that area will receive Mr. T’s famous hair cut. Its in the game today. I pity the fool who don’t get a Mohawk grenade. Faq’s are here. The commercial is here fool.

In a surprise move by many a loyal fan, Blizzard has introduced non combat vanity pets to the blizzard store. They do look very cool, but I am not sure if they are worth the $10 fee. The pets are bind on account, so every character current and future can have the pet. Here is the post by Blizz;

Today we’re pleased to introduce the Pet Store for World of Warcraft, a new way for players to obtain in-game pets to join them on their adventures in Azeroth. Two brand-new companions are now available for purchase exclusively at the Pet Store in the online Blizzard Store: Lil’ K.T. and the Pandaren Monk.

Make a Difference: Pandaren Monk Charity Pet

Enter the Pandaren Monk, ( Panda ) a martial-arts expert who’s here to help celebrate the upcoming fifth anniversary of World of Warcraft. He may be cute, but he’s proof that even the softest of critters can overcome the hardest of circumstances. For every Pandaren Monk that finds its way to a player’s side between now and the end of the year (December 31, 2009 at 11:59 PDT), we’ll donate 50 percent of the $10 purchasing price to the Make-a-Wish Foundation in an effort to brew up a little hope, strength, and joy in a child’s life.

Lil’ K.T., the Littlest Lich

Lil’ K.T. is a miniature lich who bears a striking resemblance to the legendary lord of Naxxramas, Kel’Thuzad. But don’t let his diminutive stature fool you: Lil’ K.T. has a diabolical laugh and wields true power at his bony fingertips, randomly wreaking icy havoc on critters who dare to cross his path. You can now buy this new pet for $10 on the Blizzard Store. (Lil’ K.T. )

In order to receive a purchased pet, you’ll need to merge your World of Warcraft account with a Battle.net account. For more information on Battle.net, please visit the FAQ.  For more information on the new Pet Store, visit the Pet Store FAQ.