Post Patch 5.3: The Lineup

Posted by Joseph Douglas at 12:53 PM

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It's the day after patch 5.3,  and the world did not come to an end.   Cats and dogs are not laying together and the Mayans were still wrong.

One of the things I did before patch 5.3 is to change my lineup a little bit.  I kept my main characters but shuffled around some of the alternates and their professions.  

Mommar:
(The main man)

He will always be my main,  being a Leatherworker and Blacksmith since I started it's been a good combination of profession upgrades and the ability to gain patterns through dungeons and raids.

Move:

This is my farming toon,  having been my Skinner and Miner since I started her.   She also is my ranged player when I am bored with getting up in mobs faces and hitting them very hard.

Alt 3:  (you really think I was going to tell you who your competition was?)

This is my shaman Jewelcrafter and Engineer.   I inherited her from another player and arranged her professions to where I wanted them to be.   She also will do dungeons and the occasional raids to obtain patterns.

Alt 4:

This is my Druid.   Having flying ability has made her my Alchemist and Herbalist.  There was the thoughts of converting her to a different profession but I kept both of them for the time being.

Alt 5:

This is my Paladin.   She's one of my first pet projects because I became bored during the Cataclysm and wanted a different challenge.   Being my Scribe and Herbalist has made her play in the background since both inscription and Herbalism are most difficult professions to make profits in.


Alt 6:

My Warlock is my Enchanter and Tailor.   She has been a very steady moneymaker with bags and enchants though I have been lax in getting her leveled.   Still one of my top moneymakers since Burning Crusade. \
(I shake her a lot of extra coins on the mailbox)


Alt 7:

This is one of my two bank toons.   I keep her in Thunder Bluff for most of my flipping opportunities and the random big ticket items that I want to rotate for sale.  

Alt 8:

My other bank toon sitting in Tanaris.  I use her for flipping items between Horde, Alliance and vice versa.  I've also used her for food storage ever since Burning Crusade (anyone want some worg meat?)

Alt 9:

My Death Knight is in semi retirement.  I use him as my pet seller and the occasional odds and ends.  He is also my other Engineer.   One of my engineer has the goblin profession line and this one has the gnome profession line.   It is less of a problem than it was during the earlier expansions.

Alt 10.

My goblin shaman is my first that received the makeover.  Originally I took my own advice and gave her mining and Herbalism.  This has been profitable for both money and experience.  Recently I changed her mining profession to my second alchemist and started leveling her for the future transmutes.  

Alt 11:

My Rogue rounds out my lineup.  He originally was going to be a Jewelcrafter and Engineer but there is an internal debate with the lineup on whether I will ultimately need a third Alchamist.  Engineering is enjoyable but having three in the lineup is not always cost effective.  There are now very few Engineer only items available other than helms.

When I set my lineup I wanted a combination of enjoyable game play and money making opportunity.  My Druids became very strong farmers due to the flight capabilities and not needing to drop out of flight form to pick up herbs.

My hunter is my skinner because while I'm mowing down one mob I can set my pet to tag three or four more for killing and processing.

Keeping an eye on your lineup and adjusting based on the economy and available gameplay is to be expected.  The change should always be welcome with the right planning and budgeting.

Good Luck and Good Hunting


Patch 5.3:   It's here... well tomorrow
Patch 5.3:  Preparing for the Arrival
Patch 5.3:   Grasspicking World Order
Patch 5.3: Bring Out Your Miners
Enchanting add-on for quick flips
Prepping for 5.3:   Profit lines

Realities Of Making Gold
How Does Free Gear Effect The Market?
Pre Patch 5.3 Setup
It's Childrens Weak... I Mean Week
Patch 5.3 on the Horizon
Old World vs New World Profits
Bad Bad Robot.. The Warcraft Edition
Strengthen Your Google-Fu

Patch 5.3: It's here... well tomorrow

Posted by Joseph Douglas at 12:13 PM

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Mommar here.

Tomorrow is patch day for 5.3.   The race will be on to get the new achievements and new scenarios.   I"ve always prescribed to the wait and see what happens when it comes to the first day of a patch.

This isn't my first rodeo when it comes to new patches.   Four expansions with at least 4 patches in each expansion has taught me a few things.

1.   Be prepared to wait.

Problems with the patch will happen.   Some patches have had little problems other than a few bugs but none of the patches have ever been implemented that didn't need any type of quick fix.

2.   Update your add-ons for the next week.

During the first week of the patch you should just add the time to your daily progress to update your add-ons.  New items and additions to the UI interface wreck havoc on add-ons.  Especially anything that changes buttons or customizes how the interface looks.

3.   Players will want the best equipment and upgrades as fast as possible.

With the new shield heirloom items as well as new pvp weapons and cloaks,  players will want to add more power to each item.  This means not just direct enchanting will get a boost but also the materials will get a healthy boost at the start.   Later on when the excitement is done and everyone is back to their reputation grinding prices should go back to their stable amount.

4.    People will be grouchy.

Any problem with the patch will cause a ripple effect in the attitudes of many players.   WOW has an instant gratification game in many ways.   Players are getting used to the idea of login,  go to a certain place and loot loot loot.   This works to a certain point.  But if something goes wrong,  then players will tend to grumble and rant that things are too difficult or it takes too long.  Keep this in mind and do not let it drag down your attitude.

5.  There is gold out there.

New content brings back players into the fold.  They want to see the next part of the storyline.  So players who want some downtime will jump back into the fray and look to see the new shiny fun items.   Look to sell to them.  Gems,  Enchants,  patches,  crafted quality weapons and armor.   Return players can add a bit of coin to your coffers.

6.  Have fun.

It's a game.  Treat it that way.  If things get too frustrating,  then go and read a book and come back tomorrow.   The game has been here for over 10 years,  it will be there for another day.

Good Luck,  Good Hunting and see you on the other side of the patch.


Patch 5.3:  Preparing for the Arrival
Patch 5.3:   Grasspicking World Order
Patch 5.3: Bring Out Your Miners
Enchanting Addons for quick flips
Prepping for 5.3:   Profit lines

Realities Of Making Gold
How Does Free Gear Effect The Market?
Pre Patch 5.3 Setup
It's Childrens Weak... I Mean Week
Patch 5.3 on the Horizon
Old World vs New World Profits
Bad Bad Robot.. The Warcraft Edition
Strengthen Your Google-Fu

Patch 5.3: Preparing for the Arrival

Posted by Joseph Douglas at 12:30 PM

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Mommar here

The powers that be announced in a tweet (yes,   people still tweet in this world and not just Kanye) that the new patch (patch 5.3) would drop on the 22nd of May.

Good news for those that are looking for new content and new opportunities.   Bad news for those that dislike new and shiny things.   If you haven't started downloading the patch in the background make sure to turn on your Wow starter screen before you go to bed tonight.

Between now and then will be a great time to pick up a few items to prepare for the oncoming patch storm.  There were very few direct changes to professions other than the mining and Herbalism.   With new heroic scenarios,  pvp battlegrounds and other changes this is going to feel more like a maintenance patch at first than a huge influx of content.

For the gold goblin in all of us there will be opportunities to flex our fingers and get to the gold grabbing.   New equipment always means new chances to sell item enhancements.   So having a good stockpile of enchanting supplies and raw materials (Living Steel,  Magnificant Hides) for patches will set you up.  Don't forget your conversions so that you're not just buying Hides at high prices when you can convert lower leathers to what you want.  

50 exotic leathers = 1 magnificent hide
1 daily Magnificance of Leather/Scales gives you the same Magnificent hide at half the cost (25)

If you're like me,  the Jewelcrafting market has been steady but not stellar.  Most of this is from the big 4 gems (+agi,  +str +int +stam) been up and down like a yo-yo for sales.  Just when I flip the market to a good price I like (200-250 per) someone runs in to quickly undercut it at drastic prices.   So in my bank there are a few extra red gems that need a good home.   Keeping an eye on sales and seeing just where the market rolls will let you get rid of some excess inventory.

Inscription is going to be an interesting beast to keep an eye on.  As I explained earlier with the introduction of the third specialization for their characters,  players are going to want to fill holes in their glyph book so that they can be a triple threat (tanking,  dps, pvp) or any other mixture.   The inscription market is depressed so it will be tricky to decide whether to craft/flip glyphs for players to purchase.  Or to just take the profits from other professions and walk away.   Keeping an eye on the secondary markets (herbs, alchemy) to see just what happens with their relationship to inscriptions.  

Excitement is always in the air with a new patch.  And new adventures await for the brave who take the plunge into new markets.   Keep your eyes on the prize and see you on the other side.

Good Luck and Good Hunting


Patch 5.3:   Grasspicking World Order
Patch 5.3: Bring Out Your Miners
Enchanting Addons for quick flips
Prepping for 5.3:   Profit lines

Realities Of Making Gold
How Does Free Gear Effect The Market?
Pre Patch 5.3 Setup
It's Childrens Weak... I Mean Week
Patch 5.3 on the Horizon
Old World vs New World Profits
Bad Bad Robot.. The Warcraft Edition
Strengthen Your Google-Fu

Patch 5.3: Grasspicking World Order

Posted by Joseph Douglas at 11:14 AM

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If you read yesterdays missive we took a look at the mining changes in Patch 5.3.   Not surprising Herbalism received a similar mechanic upgrade.

Players who can get access to Pandaria (level 84 or higher) can start to pick any herbs in Pandaria.   They start off with a 1 to 10 ratio.  Basically for every 10 picks you get one usable plant.   As you continue this ratio becomes better and better till your skill level is able to pick at a 1 to 1 ratio (or higher depending on your guild level,  your picking level etc.).

I didn't believe that mining ore in Pandaria would have a major effect on the economy.   With these changes in Herbalism I'm getting a feeling of the opposite.  Herbalism is a nice farming area especially when combined with a potion or transmute master.   The Druids with flight form can just drop quickly on an herb patch,  pick it and run without anyone knowing they were there.  

These changes might not be earth shattering but it could encourage players to make sure they have some type of farmer in their arsenal.  As players become more and more burnt out on content they are going to look for more vegetative opportunities.   Places where they can just gather items and loot and still hold conversations inside their verbal guild halls.

Don't be surprised if the herb market takes a slow hit and then quickly adjusts.   Keeping an eye on the market when Patch 5.3 arrives (expected sometime in the next two weeks) should give a good opportunity to restock the pantry for Herbalism needs.

For scribes this is important as well.   Low costing herbs and inks can help get you back into a stagnant market that inscription has become on many servers.  With the knowledge that players will be finishing off their glyph books to fill in a 3rd specialization this is a prime opportunity to jump back into the market for a quick money fix.

So get your beer (root preferred thank you) and get to pick some grass.   Your army of alternates will be appreciative.

Good Luck and Good Hunting


Patch 5.3: Bring Out Your Miners
Enchanting Addons for quick flips
Prepping for 5.3:   Profit lines

Realities Of Making Gold
How Does Free Gear Effect The Market?
Pre Patch 5.3 Setup
It's Childrens Weak... I Mean Week
Patch 5.3 on the Horizon
Old World vs New World Profits
Bad Bad Robot.. The Warcraft Edition
Strengthen Your Google-Fu
Go To Sales
Weekend Warriors
Possible Glyphmas With Patch 5.3?
The Green Parade
Lions,  Tigers and Cooldowns O My
Snakes in the Playground
Craft Me Some Pants.. Or Something Else
Flipping the BMAH off
Dear Blizzard:   Noblegarden Edition

Patch 5.3: Bring Out Your Miners

Posted by Joseph Douglas at 11:52 AM

0 comments View Comments

Mommar here.

So patch 5.3 is just over the horizon.   It wasn't that long since we said the same thing about patch 5.2 and even rewinding to the introduction of Mists of Pandaria.

With MOP the powers that be are shrinking the difficulty of leveling new professions.   With the changes in Blacksmithing,  old world materials were no longer needed to obtain maximum level.  I would expect the same to occur over all of the professions at some point in the future.

Patch 5.3 also introduces this same change to the mining profession.  No longer will it be necessary to go to old world areas to level mining.   This is a great idea for players who want to change from a crafting profession to a gathering profession.   The caveat with this is that most players already carry a farming character on their roster.   And having two maximum level farming characters tends to be inefficient.

If you looked at this change in the mining profession casually it would almost be assumed that this would drive the cost of ore down.  The idea being everyone grabbing their favorite toon,  changing their profession to mining and picking the world apart.   Again the odds of this are slim because only a few do not carry a mining character already.  With little or no additional ore being placed in the Auction House,  prices won't raise or lower that much.

But for players that don't already have a miner on their roster,  this is a great opportunity to get one into the action.   Where I'm not a huge fan of farming for materials,  there is a benefit of taking the time and farming both minerals and skins.   Combine this with a Potion of Luck it's not unheard of to rack up 250-500g per hour for just the cost of your time.

All of this is based on your play style and what you enjoy doing.   Some players enjoy just 'vegging' out and mining/skinning for profit.  There is nothing wrong with this,  and this profession change can give players who have abandoned the mining profession to return to the fold and gather some rock.

Just leave a little out there for me.   I'm bringing my army of new miners.

Good Luck and Good Hunting

Enchanting Addons for quick flips

Prepping for 5.3:   Profit lines

Realities Of Making Gold
How Does Free Gear Effect The Market?
Pre Patch 5.3 Setup
It's Childrens Weak... I Mean Week
Patch 5.3 on the Horizon
Old World vs New World Profits
Bad Bad Robot.. The Warcraft Edition
Strengthen Your Google-Fu
Go To Sales
Weekend Warriors
Possible Glyphmas With Patch 5.3?
The Green Parade
Lions,  Tigers and Cooldowns O My
Snakes in the Playground
Craft Me Some Pants.. Or Something Else
Flipping the BMAH off
Dear Blizzard:   Noblegarden Edition