In the pre-dawn quiet of my office I often let the head of cauliflower that doubles as my brain go running amok.
I might give it a topic, I might not, sometimes I just down a couple cups of coffee and let it go.
Today is one of those days.
One of those days where questions pop into my mind. For instance exactly what is “amok” and why is it always running. Seriously, have you ever heard of an “amok” that was not running?
Me neither.
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Anyhow, this morning I have been sitting around thinking of what might be in store for me in game. Not so much what am I going to do this evening, thats easy. I might perhaps run one random heroic, if I get on at all. Wednesdays are pretty booked with things out in the real world.
I am more talking about what I am going to do when the expansion hits.
Yes, I realize the last of the WotLK content has not even been released yet. Then again for me it basically has. Since I am not a raider any more the last new content I am likely to see was the new 5 man instances released with patch 3.3.
I am ok with that.
Then several thoughts crossed in my brain, possibly as a direct result of the number of long island iced teas that I consumed last night. Thats what brought this whole chain of thought on.
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Between my three level 80 characters I am sitting on damn near 900 stone keeper shards. More come in nearly every day as I run more and more heroics. I am positively swimming in the things.
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When the expansion comes * it is going to completely revamp the world. Most importantly it is going to redo the entire leveling process. A lot of work is going into that, and I plan to experience it first hand by leveling up a character from scratch to at least level 60. I might stall once I look at Hellfire again, but thats far in the future.
For right now I am stuck thinking what I might want to level up.
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Yes I know it’s not like I can roll the character now. Actually if it is one of the current race/class combos I could, but that’s not the point. What I am getting at is figuring out how to spend all those yummy shards I have, and perhaps some extra badges that I might end up with after gearing up Dechion.
After all, it won’t be long before I get to the point where the next upgrades that I can simply buy are Emblem of Frost upgrades. ** Once that happens I start buying heirlooms and banking them for later.
So here is the point of the whole post.
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We are going to pick new alts for me to level in Cataclysm. There are a few things to think about though.
- Keep in mind that I don’t care much for melee Dps.
- I also don’t know whether I would like tanking or not.
- Ranged Dps is a lot of fun, I enjoy it.
- Healing is also quite a good time. Actually I prefer it over anything ease when grouped.
- This character has to be able to solo well, since the whole point is to level through the new quests.
- Oh, and last but not least I plan to run up one each Alliance and Horde side.
So what would it be friends?
What race/class would you suggest?
What heirlooms would you get for them?
What else would you pack in their bags as you sent them on their way?
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* I still say we are looking at a late Feb/early Mar start to the Beta with a release date in early summer, probably late June.
** The two piece T-9 and two piece T-10 set bonuses for a holy priest are better (in my opinion) than the 4 piece of either set. I am currently planning on having the T-9 chest and legs, the T-10 shoulders and gloves, and I’ll round it out with the 75 badge non tier helm.
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Filed under: World of Warcraft | Tagged: Alts |
Dechion's Place 
I would suggest a shaman, as they seem to fit all of your criteria. As for race, just go with what you prefer (dwarven shamans will be very cool looking). You could level it as elemental and pick up a resto spec when dual-specs become available at 40. Healing low-level instances as elemental is fairly viable due to sharing similar gear.
Shoulders: Mystical Pauldrons of the Elements or Aged Pauldrons of Five Thunders (depending on whether you want to use shards or emblems)
Chest: Mystical Vest of Elements
Weapon: Devout Aurastone Hammer or The Blessed Hammer of Grace (again, emblems or shards)
Trinkets: Discerning Eye of the Beast and/or Swift Hand of Justice (if you have a TON of extra emblems to spare. I don’t really think the trinkets are necessary though.)
Enchant your weapon with Spellpower (one of the few enchants that has can go on heirloom items).
Enchant your chestpiece with Major Mana or Greater Stats.
You’ll want to use a your main-hand weapon and a shield, so it might be worth looking for a few decent BOE shields of various levels on the auction house. Lots of large bags is a bonus for any character.
Thats all I can think of at the moment!
A Shaman is definetely on the short list.
The biggest thing here being the versatility to be ranged Dps or heals depending on what I am doing at the moment.
To be honest, I’m not sure levelling a shaman will be the best plan, as Elemental shaman levelling (when I levelled my two 80 shaman) was not an efficient method – instead Enhancement was the way to go.
What about a protection paladin? It would provide an interesting challenge and it is one of the best ways to learn to tank. Prot Pallies solo well (once you get the necessary talents – the first 20-30 levels will be a grind). I don’t have access to the WOW website, so I’m not sure if it will be possible, but what about a Worgen Paladin? (If not, any of the other races that *can* be paladins would work).
There was a point when I gave leveling a Pally an honest shot. The lack of any real ranged attacks kinda blew it for me though.
I may very well give it a go though. I do plan to play through all the starting areas again since they are all being redone.
I might not take one to 60 but I can see one making it to 20 or so.
Ele shaman may not be the “most” efficient but it is certainly viable if the ranged dps playstyle is preferred. Its not like leveling as a Holy priest or anything :). The early levels you do run OOM quickly, but it gets better. It’s not really any more difficult than any other ranged caster class to level IMHO.
Yeah, dwarf shaman is on my shortlist as well.
I also think I’m going to do a worgen warlock. Demo of course. Just the thought of a human, that turns into a worgen, that turns into a demon … obviously the cloth Dreadmist Robe and Mantle are probably what you want .. although the shard shoulders work too, that’s what I have now on my priest.
Worg druid is a possibility on my list, also, although I’m holding out on making that decision until I see the forms. Troll druid is an absolute must-have either way. What pieces you get for a druid will depend on the role you want, although it sounds like boomkin would fit what you want better. You could still wear the cloth in that case, or buy the leather spellpower stuff.
Worgen Druid sounds like a lot of fun, I’ll give you that.
Versatility, ability to cover all four roles depending on spec and gear, the worgen racial of +15 to skinning goes well with a leather wearer as well.
Add that to me already having the leather (non spellpower) chest and shoulders from the Rogue I tried leveling and it is most definately on the short list as well.
As you said though, I am waiting to see the forms. If the Dps feral form is a wolf I am sold.
Personally, I’m going to create and actually work to level my first real Alliance toon ever with a Worgen Shaman. I’ve played Shamans a bit before, and I like the versatility offered by them. I can pewpew if I want, run the healing train, and even melee a little bit, if it comes to it. The Worgen seem perfectly fit for this role (and it sounds like you’d like them, too).
On the Horde side, I can’t wait for my Undead Hunter. First, I think it’s funny. Second, I’ve been wanting to play a Hunter for a long time, but really only truly enjoy Undead characters. Orcs are fun. Trolls are…weird. Belfs are…well, Belfs. But the Forsaken have a great storyline and probably the best racial abilities in the entire game.
So those are two I would certainly suggest: Worgen Shaman and Undead Hunter. Fits all of your proclivities and should be a heck of a lot of fun. Sadly, I’m not up on the heirlooms yet (still gearing), so I can’t answer that one intelligently.
Undead Hunter. That does sound like a hoot.
I always have leveled with Boars as pets, perhaps one of the new diseased ones from the Human starting area would be a good fit.
The Worgen Shaman though, unfortunately that is a no-go. As interesting of a combo as it would be they Blizz is not letting them ran as Shaman (or Palladin).
Aliance Shaman, go Dwarf. In the screenshots I saw they just look awesome. (and with any luck will get glowing beer kegs as totems)
Ack. I fail at failing. I think I got the screenshots confused in my head (haven’t looked at them since BlizzCon).
I’m looking forward to having one of the diseased wolves from Feralas as a pet on my good ‘ol hunter. I think I’ll call him Cujo.
Unfortunately, worgen can’t be paladins or shaman. Which is too bad, because *nothing* would be cooler than a worg with a pair of fist weapons and spirit wolves. 😦
I’ll definitely be rolling a Troll Druid. Level to 40 as feral cat, then switch to Moonkin. Might even make this my ‘main’.
A worgen hunter sounds positively awesome to me as well. Can’t wait to see the animations.
I always have favored Trolls when I am Horde side.
I just love the animations.
I am looking forward to trying a Human Hunter and possibly a Worgen one as well. Worgen Shaman sounds like a blast but they cant be Shamans unfortunately.
Hmmm…Worgen Hunter with a Spirit Wolf pet? You’d be a one man pack 🙂
I think we are going to see a lot of Worgen Hunters. Somehow I see lots using wolves as pets.
My 1st reaction was Shaman as well – because of the dual spec possibilities of elemental dps and healing.
My 2nd reaction now is: Go Goblin or go home! 😛
Goblin Shaman. I wonder what their totems will look like.
*ponders Goblinish Shaman*
Hey, I’m to level 12 on my new Gnome Mage. It’s kind of wild since I really haven’t done much other than melee stuff. I have yet to ask for a guild invite for my alt… but look for me (toon name: Shazbat).
P.S. Gnome has a really cool ability of being able to run under horses and most other mounts.
Funniest thing I’ve heard so far is that a buddy of mine is rolling up a Tauren Paladin named “Hymnburger.” Already reserved so you SIlverhand folks can’t steal it 🙂
My thought was shammy as well — lots of better thought out recs above, though.
Also, to your “Seriously, have you ever heard of an “amok” that was not running?” Two words: Amok Time. 😛
Live long and prosper 😀