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BoA Heirlooms…are they just hand me downs?

Posted in Alts, General, Main with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 4, 2011 by Epic Diapers

Choose wisely (from wowhead.com)

Audio Stream

Download the mp3 here

Bind on Account heirloom gear is the focus for the latest audio segment. If you are an alt-oholic like me, heirlooms have been a god-send. They can stack to a maximum of a 40% boost to your leveling speed. Most max out at 35% due to the difficulty in getting the fishing derby ring (+5%). Some heirlooms don’t provide a leveling boost, but they are blue-equivalent gear, level up along with you, and don’t require repairing. Plus, you can sell even more questing/dungeon gear that you acquire, saving you significant gold along your journey.

First, you pretty much need a max-level character (although you can earn heirlooms through the argent tournament, starting at level 77). The most common way to purchase them now is with Justice Points. There is a specific heirloom vendor in each main capital city. If you have multiple alts, try and consolidate your gear across multiple alts. For example, you can use agility leather for your hunter, enhancement shaman, and feral druid. The armor bonuses aren’t crucial, especially considering the grinding time you’ll save.

You can also spend your time pulling your fingernails out by grinding seals through the argent tournament, but personally, that’s not my recommended method.

Helms and cloaks are available through your guild vendor, and require reputation and quite a bit of gold. However these pieces work from 1-85, and all other heirlooms lose their benefits at 80.

You can follow me @epicdiapers and follow my blog and hear all of my segments at epicdiapers.com.

And remember, it’s hard to balance the pew pew with the poo poo.

Sihx

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Roastin’ Turkeys!

Posted in Alts, General, Main with tags , , , , , , , , on November 17, 2011 by Epic Diapers

Where are those giblets?

Audio Stream

Yep, it’s that time of year again, Pilgrim’s Bounty is back for a short 7 days, November 21 through the 27th.

What I try and do with this segment is make your WoWing more efficient, and holidays are always a great way to advance some part of your character’s progression in some way. I personally don’t care about holiday achievements, but if you want to quickly level cooking on a toon or three, time to tie on that apron and grab a glass of sherry!

You can level your cooking from 1 to over 330 in less than an hour. First, go to Stormwind or Undercity and pick up your Bountiful Cookbook, which contains all the recipes you’ll need. Start by making Spice Bread and Spice Bread stuffing to skill 100. Next, make pumpkin pies to 160. Get over the Orgrimmar/Ironforge and make Tangy Wetland Cranberries to 220. Fly on over to Thunder Bluff/Darnassus and make Candied Sweet Potatoes to 280. Finally, go hunt wild turkeys and make slow roasted turkeys to 420 330! (420 wasn’t discovered until after the holiday launched, thanks for catching this!) Don’t forget to train your cooking as you level!

You can follow me @epicdiapers and follow my blog and hear all of my segments at epicdiapers.com.

And remember, it’s hard to balance the pew pew with the poo poo.

Sihx

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An Interview With Scott Johnson & Turpster

Posted in Alts, Main with tags , , , , , , , , , , on November 4, 2011 by Epic Diapers

Scott and Turpster recording "The Instance." Those are my mics!!! squeee

Stream the Audio

MP3

Blizzcon was fantastic! Three nights without children bring a certain sense of wonder and excitement…and a little funny tickle in the nether region for a 37 year old man. Yes, getting out of the house without any responsibilities but to that of my liver and what I put into it was liberating.

The convention itself was unlike anything else I’ve experienced. Nerd-dom for sure. I did smell quite a bit of BO, but the AC seemed to whisk most of it away. Many of you may have seen my pics from Blizzcon. If not, head on over to my new Facebook page and check it out. (You can “like” my page while you’re there!).

Geeking out about scuba diving with Ghostrcrawler

Me and Mike Morheim

With a few libations in me, I even geeked out about marine science with Ghostcrawler (yep, I’m a marine biologist) and met Mike Morheim. They both have more money than me, fact.

Oh, and AIE had a guild hall that was nothing short of fantastic. Many props (not propositions) to Belthaz and others that set it up and made it work. While hanging out there, I set up my audio equipment for a possible AIE recording (which didn’t happen), but it served as a backup to Scott Johnson’s own equipment. Since I had a full copy of the recording of him and Turpster doing a live show there (ep #249), I had a little fun with my own interview, posted above. It also was included in the latest Instance, episode #251. Let’s just say they got some dirt on Blizzard’s next “augmentation” of WoW characters.

Hafrot and Stompalina recording "Rawrcast" in the AIE guild hall

I also invited the Rawrcast crew over to the guild hall and we recorded an episode at the very same table…with a few more cuss words and booze. You can check out that Blizzcon Drunkfest, Stompalina, Hafrot, Pignasty and their crew are freakin’ loose and hilarious. I had a blast!

Sihx

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Patch 4.3 Professions Prep!

Posted in Alts, Main with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 7, 2011 by Epic Diapers

Make crazy gold or gear your alts when 4.3 drops!

Audio

Well, after almost a year of doing Epic Diapers, I’ve decided to take the plunge and purchase the domain, epicdiapers.com. Has a nice ring to it, eh?

Patch 4.3 is now live on the PTR, so I wanted to cover some additions to the world of professions to get you better prepared and meet the item level requirements for the new 5 man heroics and the new looking for raid feature.

First of all, chaos orbs will be tradeable in 4.3, meaning you may want to either a) craft a bunch of item level 365 epics NOW with all of your orbs before the price in those craftables drops too far, b) horde those chaos orbs for selling on the AH or c) craft some of the new ilevel 397 gear you or your guildies will be able to make.

Right now, blacksmiths, leatherworkers, and tailors will get all new patters for bracers, boots and legplates, all of them requiring the new essence of destruction, which will replace this tier’s Living Ember. Blacksmiths and leatherworkers will also need chaos orbs, while tailors will need dreamcloth. All three will also get new ilevel 377 PVP patterns.

Enchanters will also be able to shatter their maelstrom crystals to heavenly shards, Scribes can create new ilevel 377 PVP relics, and jewelcrafters will be able to make new ilevel 377 PVP amulets and rings and even some sexy new rhinestone sunglasses!

Oh man, I gotta get me some of these to wear at Blizzcon!! Hit me up on twitter if you’re going!

Wowhead has a great professions prep page for patch 4.3!

And remember, it’s hard to balance the pew pew with the poo poo.

Sihx

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Brewfest Loot Pinata….Gear Those Alts!

Posted in Alts, Main with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on September 29, 2011 by Epic Diapers

It's only my 9th stein of the morning, lad!

Audio

Brewfest is back, baby! I know this guide might be a tad late, but all that in game drinking and whacking the loot pinata they call Coren Direbrew over and over has me in a tizzy. If you’re a fresh 85, his loot is a great way to boost your item level, and if you run him enough, you may even see a 365 dagger or mace drop, and if you have a cloverleaf tatooed on your rear end, perhaps you have even received a brewfest kodo or ram!

I took the many, many, many opportunities to run this guy almost every day with 5 toons, and all I got to drop was one tankard o terror. Not that I’m bitter or anything, but that’s besides the point. You altoholics out there need to take advantage and wrap up these last few days of brewfest by running this guy at least once a day for the dagger, mace and mounts, and until your eyes bleed on the last day of the holiday if you haven’t yet received your 365 trinket of your desired flavor.

By the way, I’m going to BLIZZCON BABY. So, hit me up if you’re on the block.

And remember, it’s hard to balance the pew pew with the poo poo.

Sihx

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How to Efficiently Spend Your Valor Points

Posted in Alts, Main with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 19, 2011 by Epic Diapers

Like my boots? Oh right, I'm a tauren.

Audio

So you’ve been stacking your valor points and you can’t quite decide on what item to buy next. Is it the tier gloves, oh but wait, you don’t yet want to break your Tier 11 4 piece bonus. Or how about that trinket? But, it’s only 13 item levels above your current one.

If you’re having trouble prioritizing your loot, try and break it down into compartments and follow some general guidelines to make your purchases more efficient while having the best upgrade possible.

An easy first cut is to look at which item gives the biggest boost to your most important stat (strength, intellect, agility). If it’s close, look at your secondary stat increase. You can also go with the gear with the largest item level increase.

If you want a brainless approach, using a gear optimizer such as askmrrobot.com allows you to review how good each upgrade is in terms of a relative weighted point system. If the trinket boosts your points by 75, but the ring only by 30, well, go with the trinket. It also considers breaking and making tier set bonuses and procs.

Finally, in most cases, I would recommend leaving the tier 12 hands and legs for your last valor purchases if you do baradin hold every week, as these items drop off Occu’thar. It’s happened to all of us, you have just purchased the tier gloves, and they drop 2 days later.

And remember, it’s hard to balance the pew pew with the poo poo.

Sihx

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DING! Recruit a friend gave me 5.2 levels PER HOUR

Posted in Alts, Main with tags , , , , on September 10, 2011 by Epic Diapers

Me haz me rokett mount

Well, I finished my trek to level 80 with my dual boxing recruit a friend adventure! All told, my /played time was 1 day and 14 hours. That is fantastic. Considering that this is the time it took for TWO toons to go from 1-80 AND I got to grant 40 levels, makes it nothing short of amazing. That’s 200 effective levels gained/earned/granted in 38 hours. That’s 5.2 levels per hour!

Even the most robust leveler with heirlooms takes 3-4 days at least, to level ONE toon to 80. Even considering 3 days for one toon (2.2 levels per hour), my conservative estimates tell me that RAF is at LEAST 2.3 times faster than leveling traditionally, even with heirlooms….for the fastest levelers.

I’m a hack at this. It took a while to set up my macros and key bindings. I think that my 5.2 levels per hour blows away the average player’s levels per hour. Conservatively, it takes 4 days to level to 80 (1.67 levels/hr). RAF at my pedestrian rate is still more than three times as fast. I’d say it’s worth the extra cash ($5-10 overall). My time is worth it.

 

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You’ve Lost That Loving Feelin’

Posted in Alts, Main with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 8, 2011 by Epic Diapers

Audio

I know work or school is draining, your kids and spouse are barking behind you every day, and you just dropped that delicious chocolate cake you were looking forward to munching, icing side down of course. So, after you put the kids to bed and turn on some horrible reality TV show for your wife, it’s time to…power UP that computer, plug IN that headset, and LOG ON for a little WoW time, one on one baby, oh yeah!

…but wait, it’s not there for you, you don’t feel it, the chemistry is…is…dare I say it…gone?

If you’re a little burned out, or just not feeling it when you log on, maybe you’re in a rut and need a change of scenery in Azeroth.

Change it up, stop doing those mind-numbing dailies and try some random PVP, perhaps experiment tanking with that alt that’s been collecting dust. Roll an alt with the other faction, dual box, tinker with addons, try to make some money in the auction house, work on a pet or mount collection, role play, anything that you don’t normally do in game brings about a fresh perspective and new challenges in this virtual world, which will just keep you coming back for more.

But, if none of this does it for you…well my friend, it’s time to take a break and find another hobby, because if you don’t enjoy your hobby, it’s work.

And remember, it’s hard to balance the pew pew with the poo poo.

You can hear this segment from the stream above, or listen to “The Instance: #243: Do The Humans First ” on iTunes or at http://www.theinstance.net/

Sihx

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Best PVE Gear for Toons that Don’t Raid

Posted in Alts, Main, Uncategorized with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 12, 2011 by Epic Diapers

You can still have chocolate cake if you don't raid!

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So, you’re level 85 and can’t raid, or you want to gear up an alt. you may not get the best gear in the game, but you can do pretty well without ever killing a boss in the Firelands, Here’s a quick guide on the best PVE gear you can get without raiding.

First, grab your 365 cloak from the Elemental Bonds quests, open to all level 85s. Next, head for the Molten Front. Upon completing all of the quests, most classes can get 365 gear for their neck, hands, wrist, waist, feet, rings, trinkets and relics, and blacksmithing patterns for weapons.

For level 378 gear, do your daily random heroics, as valor points can get you your neck, wrist, ring, relics, and your tier 12 chest, hands and legs. Don’t forget your weekly Occu’thar kill in Baradin hold for a chance at a 378 PVE piece or PVP 384 piece to drop.

Try and join a PUG to kill Firelands trash, and you can not only grind up rep with the Avegners of Hyjal to get a 378 cloak and belt, but you may also get lucky with a neck, wrist, waist, ring, or weapon drop.

If you’re rich, hit up the auction house for BoE 378s. Ask guildies if they have any 378 hand or boot patterns they’d be willing to craft for you…but make sure you pay them well.

In a nutshell, you can get item level 365 or 378 PVE gear for every slot except for your head and shoulders. If you have less than 359 gear here, just spend honor points for 371 PVP gear, which will be better in most cases.

You can find a more detailed spreadsheet of your options here.

And remember, it’s hard to balance the pew pew with the poo poo.

-Sihx

@epicdiapers

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RAF Update!

Posted in Alts, Main with tags , , , , , , , , , , on July 22, 2011 by Epic Diapers

Hey all! Hope you got to hear my last segment on “The Instance” about the Firelands dailies! Unfortunately life has gotten in the way of producing a segment for today’s show. My daughter’s at camp, I’ve been diving a lot, and I was honored to be selected to play in my baseball league’s all-star game a couple nights ago (not bad for a 37 yr old!).

I’m still a few days away from unlocking the Molten Front vendors. I have 10 orbs saved up to immediately craft some 365 gear for me, but since that time, I finally have equipped 359 in every slot. I’m not sure it’s worth expense, or rather, missing out at the potential income of crafting and SELLING the 365 gear…especially the weapons. Could be a quick 20-30k or more. Not much to gain for 6 item levels in my own gear.

I haven’t had much time to dungeon (nor desire), but I have hopped back on my Warrior/Priest dual boxing RAF team. They hit 40 last night, and they are at 13 hours played. That also includes a couple of hours just tweaking my ISboxer settings. Last night was smooth grinding. Just skipped the collection quests, focused on the kill/target quests, and I went from 30-40 in 2.5 hours last night. And remember, that’s for 2 toons, not 1, and I’ll be able to grant 40 levels to another level 40 character once these hit 80. Both toons are guilded, so that’s a 10% mount speed increase and another 10% leveling speed boost, on top of all the heirloom gear and RAF boosting. Typically 3-4 quests completed equate to a full level. It’s almost unfair.

Off to 1k Needles and Tanaris for another quick 10 levels….

EDIT: I posted this one hour ago. Since then I’ve gained 4 levels on both toons…sheesh….

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