Wednesday, November 30, 2011

IntPiPoMo #10 - Of Instances and So-Called Bosses

Here it is, the last installment for Angelya's IntPiPoMo screenshot challenge. It has been a wonderful project that has pushed me to share a lot of images that would have just ended up in the photo gallery at some point, which I know doesn't get looked at all that often. So thank you for putting this out there Angelya! Happy soon to be December to you all.






I must admit that the second to last image is not my own. It was taken by Pathanther after a wipe, though I did do some minor contrast editing to it. I thought it was too stunning not to share! If the inclusion of his image makes me short for this event, just include one of my Fortunate Fridays posts. /casts cheat! 

IntPiPoMo #9 - Jungle Fever

Oh boy, I'm cutting it a little bit close on Angelya's IntPiPoMo screenshot challenge! That's okay though, I'm in the home stretch and should be able to make the deadline. Here are images 40 through 45.





Monday, November 28, 2011

IntPiPoMo #8 - Landscapes of Azeroth and Beyond

It's nearly the end of November, so we're coming to a close with Angelya's IntPiPoMo screenshot challenge. Fear not, after this post I still have 10 images to post! I'm sure you're stoked ; )





Saturday, November 26, 2011

Fortunate Saturday(?)

They're quirky, they're fun, they're random Azerothian fortunes! Every Friday (or some other random day of the weekend if Saz derps on knowing what part of the week it really is) you will see a different fortune (either from our beloved Darkmoon Faire or the new fortune cards) featured here at World of Saz. Enjoy!

Fortune Card: You might have better luck with another fortune.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

The Turkinator

The fearless warriors gathered together on a cold, bright morning. The sun had just lumbered its way over the tree lined horizon, the grass was covered in a thick layer of hoar frost and crunched under foot. The citadel lay silently before them, unsuspecting.

Loudly and without caution the raid team began to circle the large building. They pecked at the ground with their mighty beaks, looking for sustenance and booby traps. Some of the younger warriors sparred with each other, impatient for the battle to begin. 

A pair of young assassins scaled one of the fences near the citadel, trying to gain a glimpse of what they were up against. Their eyesight wasn't terribly keen but they were able to do what they meant to do and saw what they had come to see. With ungraceful dismounts they both returned to the ground with a great *thunk*. The assassins promptly reported their findings to the head Tom. The head Tom listened intently with his scaly head cocked sideways, then addressed the rest of the flock once the report had been given.

"Hens! Toms! For years we have been hunted! For years we have been chased away from the seed and corn left for the unworthy, the deer and small birds! WELL NO MORE! Today is the day, my fellow hens and toms, that we shall claim what is rightfully ours! Today we shall put the slaughter of our kind to an end! TODAY WILL BE THE DAY OF THE ALMIGHTY TURKEY!!!" *gobblegobble*

Many loud and garbled cheers rose up amongst the ranks. The head Tom cleared his throat and continued on.

*gobblegobble* "Our assassins just reported to me that the head of the citadel is not in, nor is the secondary. Likewise the pellet gun wielder seems to have stepped out. Currently the citadel is only occupied by one boss and her small army of what one assassin claimed to be "deformed rats." Our assassins have stunned the "Saz" as they called her, but she will be aware of our presence and alert once she comes back around. The "deformed rats" are still a threat, though they seem to be contained for now and will only be loosed upon us if we allow the "Saz" the opportunity to do so." *gobblegobblegobble* "There is a guard dog, but he also seems to be locked up for the moment, thus is not considered to be a threat." *gobblegobble* "A team of ten should stay here in the front yard and occupy it in an intimidating fashion. It is your duty to distract the "Saz" while our special ops team gets to work. You two young toms, you stay up front with those eight hens. You three toms there! You, the remaining hens, and myself will head around to the back where we shall try to secure the last of the bird seed. Assassins, you two will float between the positions, but keep a special eye on the side of the building, that will be our one vulnerable spot during this operation. Questions?"

*gobble* "If I may, sir." Said a little hen. What shall we do if the "Saz" exits the building?"

The head Tom's face grew very serious. "If that were to happen," *gobblegobble* "there very well could be much bloodshed. However, we have strength and we have numbers. It is my belief that even if she were to set loose the "deformed rats" and the guard dog that our numbers would still prevail. Have heart, fight fearlessly. We do this so that our already large numbers can grow greater. We do this to ensure that your chicks and your chicks' chicks will grow fat and powerful. More fat and more powerful than even we are today. We have come for our freedom, we have come for the food, we have come for our chicks' lives, and we have come for the freedom to have the food. All the food. Sacrifices may be made to ensure the fatness of the rest. The winters are cold and harsh, do you not wish for your chicks to be fat?"

"Of course sir!"

"Don't you wish to be fat?"

"Oh yes sir!!"

"Then, let us get 'Operation: Occupy Saz's Lawn' underway. Places turkeys, we have gullets to fill!"

*******

Meanwhile, inside the citadel (aka my house) ...

*Saz is minding her own business, chatting away on Twitter. Suddenly she hears a loud commotion outside of her window.*

"There are twenty turkeys on my front lawn." She tweets. "OMG!! TWO OF THEM ARE ON MY FENCE STARING AT ME!!!"

*Runs into the kitchen to see if they have invaded the backyard as well, which they have. Runs back to the computer and begins to type furiously."

"THEY'RE IN MY BACKYARD TOO! I'M SURROUNDED!!!"

*She then decides to take the advice of her twitmates, promptly borrowing a Frostmourne and a turkey baster.*

Yells: Come then champions, feed me your breasts!




**No wild turkeys were harmed in the writing of this story. However, had this been a completely true story, they would have been served up with potatoes, gravy, fresh bread, stuffing, fresh pumpkin pie, and more than likely carrots. I'm sure there would also have been a large assortment of various of other foods made available to those returning to the citadel later that evening or even visiting the next day.**

For the record, wild turkeys are SCARY. They really are birdzillas. If you don't know what a birdzilla is, I implore you to watch the original Homeward Bound movie. Chance is awesome.

I'd like to take a moment to thank several people, and groups of people for that matter, since it is indeed the season for giving thanks, and I never seem to feel thankful enough.

I'd like to thank firstly my little WoW crew, even though most of you no longer actually play. Without the support you have given me this past year (and more) I would have never taken up this writing endeavor, would have quit WoW itself long ago, and more than likely would still be a miserable mess. You all mean the world to me, and I love you each dearly for it.

Secondly I'd like to thank the blogging community as a whole. You all make up such a wonderful community, I cannot even begin to describe how wonderful it has been to slowly discover all of the individuals involved in it. I'd like to thank Blog Azeroth, Twisted Nether, the MMO Melting Pot, and all of the folks involved with making those sites happen. You all make the blogosphere a community, please keep up the great work!

Thirdly I wish to thank those of you who follow/chat with me on Twitter. You all are a brilliant, fun-loving bunch. You keep me entertained and are almost always ready with helpful advice and kind word. Please don't change your crazy ways, ever.

Lastly(ish) I'd like to thank my family (regardless of the fact that I'm 99% certain none of them will read this) and my "man-shapped loot" for everything they've done for me. They put up with my stubborn and sometimes completely ridiculous ways and have stuck by my side through some pretty rough crap. I'm grateful to and love you guys more than I often show.

And finally we get to you, dear reader. Just because you're last on my list doesn't make you any less important. Oh no. Without you reading these words there would be very little reason for me to write. Sure, I love a good rant to get things off of my chest now and again, but what's the point if there isn't someone to read it? To bounce ideas off of me, to show me that I made a mistake? Without readers a blogger is but someone who journals. So I thank you for taking time out of your (more than likely) busy day to read, comment, or simply just browse at my little corner of the internet. You help to make what I do worth it. Thank you!

Oh, and one more thank you must be given before I finish this post. Thank you Amerence, along with Blog Azeroth and everyone else who is involved with making this event a success, for putting out this post topic out there for greater blogging community. It took me a bit to come up with an idea, but it was rather fun to write! Really, I blame Twitter for giving me the idea. The creative credit goes to those looney buggers (I say that with the greatest affection guys and gals!) for this one. 

Once again, just because I can: thanks! : D

IntPiPoMo #7 - City Scapes and Nightmares

Have a pile of screenshots laying around that you'd love to showcase, but haven't quite had the right reason to? Now you do! Jump in on Angelya's IntPiPoMo screenshot challenge, you still have a few days left to participate!





Saturday, November 19, 2011

IntPiPoMo #6 - Darnassus and Durnholde

It's still not to late to jump into Angelya's IntPiPoMo screenshot challenge! Check out the link and get to posting.





Friday, November 18, 2011

Fortune Friday

They're quirky, they're fun, they're random Azerothian fortunes! Every Friday you will see a different fortune (either from our beloved Darkmoon Faire or the new fortune cards) featured here at World of Saz. Enjoy!

Fortune Card: You are very fortunate!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

IntPiPoMo #5 - Sholazar and Borean

Here's my 5th installment of Angelya's IntPiPoMo screenshot challenge. Check out the link for more info if you'd like to join in on the fun!





Tuesday, November 15, 2011

The 5 Golden Rules of Raiding

Take care of everything you will need for the raid prior to the start time.
Need to regem/reforge/respec? Take care of it well before raid invites go out. Need food, flasks, or to repair? Again, take care of this before invites go out. Sure, we may all forget to do these things from time to time, but if you habitually have to hearth out of a raid or pop down a guild bank because you forgot something again, your group isn't going to want to raid with you much. When you /afk or feel the need to run off to the reforger every single time you get a new toy, you're wasting the precious raid time of 9 or 24 other people. Time is precious dear reader, and that 15 minutes it took you to gem/enchant/reforge/do whatever to your brand new piece of whatever is 15 minutes that your raid members will never get back. You could have downed another boss in that time!

Be on time.
I was taught the saying in high school: To be early is to be on time, to be on time is to be late, to be late is to be forgotten. If you log on early you give yourself ample time to take care of everything mentioned in the prior point, fly your happy butt to the raid entrance, and this little bit of extra prep time will probably give you ability to get that glass of water or to go tinkle really quickly if you hadn't done so already. Everyone being on time makes for a potential earlier pull, an earlier pull means more things die, more things dying means more potential shinies for everyone. More chances at loot and boss kills make people happy; waiting for Jimmy, Timmy, and Sal to log on doesn't. Savvy?

Know the fights before hand.
Read a strategy guide, watch a video (I hear Tankspot and Learn2Raid have some fantastic ones), do something to get a general feel for a fight before you step into a raid. Do you need to be able to recite the dungeon journal and know what every person in the raid must do in their given role? Certainly not, but you should be at least aware of what is expected of you.

If you don't know, ask.
For a good majority of the raiding community a strategy video, written guide, or the dungeon journal simply isn't enough.While they may understand the basic concepts of an encounter, not everything may "click" for them until they get in there and get their hands dirty themselves. This fact is completely acceptable; we're not machines after all and everyone's learning process is a bit different. However, if by the time your group is a few pulls in and there is something that you or your group as a whole is still not grasping, ask. Ask what you could be doing wrong personally (assuming it's you who is miffing something up), or ask how the group could possibly improve. If you're uncomfortable with asking the group as a whole, whisper either the raid leader, or (if it's a personal struggle on a certain mechanic) ask another person who also happens to be in a similar role as you who seems to be doing well what the skinny is. While you may learn something on your own eventually, asking a simple question may save you many future blunders and repair bills.

Stay positive.
Staying positive is by far one of the most difficult things to stick with. Positivity can go a long way in a raid that is either learning for the first time or simply having a rough night. With a short bio break, some positive wording, and a bit of mental regrouping, a raid can go from wiping like crazy to rocking some faces off. Randomly toddling off without permission from the raid leader because you've had it never helps the situation at hand; this includes random afks, leaving the raid unexpectedly, and drama logging (aka so called "power outages" that never actually happen). While yes, bad nights suck, pulling the drama queen out of the closet doesn't help the raid and it certainly doesn't help the people in the raid think any better about you. If you're truly at your whit's end there are many other raids and guilds out there. If you're not anywhere near an actual self boiling point but instead just a bit flustered, try to think positively. Take a swig of your beverage, do a few little stretches, shake out the bad vibes the best you can and get yourself back to killing those pixels. If the boss isn't not downed right then, it can/will be brought down some other day.


Preparation, timeliness, teamwork, and positivity; they make a ragtag team of people into a raid group. Together they slay all sorts of bad beasties, separated they cause a havoc induced headache haven. Take care of your raid and maybe, just maybe your raid will take care of you as well in return.

Monday, November 14, 2011

IntPiPoMo #4 - Northrend, Sinister Sweet

Hey you, yeah you with the keyboard. Would you like to get in on Angelya's IntPiPoMo screenshot challenge? Head on over to the link provided to get the details!





Friday, November 11, 2011

IntPiPoMo #3 - Booze, Dragons, and Brawling

Another day, another memory. Record it by taking a screenshot, then post it to participate in Angelya's IntPiPoMo screenshot challenge.





Fortune Friday

They're quirky, they're fun, they're random Azerothian fortunes! Every Friday you will see a different fortune (either from our beloved Darkmoon Faire or the new fortune cards) featured here at World of Saz. Enjoy!

Fortune Card: The road to Blackrock Mountain is paved with good intentions.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

IntPiPoMo #2 - Terror, Fear, and A Party Boat

Interested in partaking in Angelya's IntPiPoMo screenshot challenge? Follow the link provided to find out more!