WoW Draenei Shaman vs Rogue

Okay I want to start this off stating that at the moment my thoughts here are an unproven theory. However, a while back when my Shaman was in his early 50s I duelled a Undead Rogue who took me apart like nobodies business. The fight went something like this.

• Accept Duel
• Drop Stone Skin, Magma, Healing, and Wind Fury totems
• Rogue disappears
• Rogue Stuns me
• Rogue takes out totems
• Rogue hits me with poison
• I finally become unstunned and manage to hit Storm Strike
• Rogues Stuns me again and disappears
• Rogue stabs my toon to death while I'm stunned

Personally, I never played a rogue above level 8 but I'm told they are one the hardest to beat on PvP and after this experience I can believe it: when playing a horde hunter I once watched a ?? Shaman take on a ?? Troll Rogue and again the rogue won handily. However, I still didn't like being taken down so easily and its been annoying me ever since. Today my Shaman is level 64 and he was challenged to a duel by another Undead Rogue. I declined due to needing to leave for work but it did get me thinking about a different battle plan.

My Shaman is an enhancement build which is capable of some decent dps and unlike the last match up I have the Spirt Wolves and Shamanistic Rage spells at my disposal. In addition, I duel wield and can't imagine why you wouldn't duel wield with an enhancement build: with that in mind I would try the following.

Before Accepting Duel:

• Hit Lightning Shield
• Enhance weapon in main hand with Wind Fury
• Enhance weapon in other hand with Flame Tongue

After Accepting Duel:

• Drop Earthbind Totem to hopefully slow him down
• Drop Cleansing Totem to counteract poisoning
• Drop Windfury Totem for chance at more dps
• Drop Magma because I still think the area attack given with this helps when he turns invisible

During the Fight:

• Hit Spirit Wolves: you know he's going to stun you and the wolves can still attack him when your out of it sadly it only lasts 45 seconds
• Hit Gift of Naaru my guy is a Draenei after all
• Hit Shamanistic Rage to lower damage taken and re-cover mana
• Hit Frost Shock to slow him down
• Go for Storm Strike/Lava Lash/Earth Shock combos
• If things are not going well drop a Fire Nova Totem to maybe turn the tide
• Re-cast Lightning Shield when ever possible

I'm not saying this will work and I have no idea what a rogue could do to counter but it's the only workable strategy I can think of and I'm definitely storing this in the back of my mind to recall next time I PvP a rogue.

If it works for you let me know if it doesn't well ... hey it's just a theory.

Left 4 Dead Survival Pack: Take 2 Again

To finish up what Darcy started a few days ago, I'm really falling behind on my blogging, I'm going to talk a bit more about the game, focusing on the new content, with a couple tips if I may.

I have to say that I was less than thrilled with the new content when I first played it and even made a slightly negative impression of it; to be honest I don't like doing reviews immediately, I prefer to ruminate on things for awhile, however to be current I sometimes forego my journalistic integrity (yes, I can be a pretentious prick at times). I have to say that overall my impressions haven't changed massively but I'm willing to give the new content a recommend now.

My big problem was only trying the new screen, the light house, and it is a tough bitch; it frustrated me and jaded my experience. However after trying some of the other levels I find I can enjoy most of them. I won't cover ground that Darcy did, but I will say this: the bronze levels, 4 minutes are reachable by one or two players and the AI and I believe Silver, 7 minutes, is within reach on many levels, however I don't think the Gold can be reached by anything less than 4 experienced and hardened campaigners.

The spawn rate is still the biggest problem, but if you can learn the ebb and flow of it you can work through it. Exhibit A, this graph I got from the Left 4 Dead blog:

This is the actual graph that is used in the game for spawning, you can see the rapid progression as time goes on, especially in regards to the special infected. However, give this a glance before playing and you can begin to time your actions. Did we clear that last wave in time for an ammo run? When is the next Tank due? Did Francis say anything amusing this time around? OK, the last one isn't on the graph, but it's still valid.

Best advice I can give? Heal after every wave for the first couple of times. Don't worry about saving resources until you've gotten good at these levels, you won't last long enough to use them all. Ideally you should be able to clear the first wave in about 30 seconds, leaving you 10-15 seconds for regroup and resupply before the first tank hits. You won't take him down before the second wave spawns unless you're well co-ordinated and after that it's a free for all, so don't spare the pipe bombs, Molotov's, or first aid. Like Bill always says: "First to aid, last to die!"

One last thing, you'd think it's a good idea to gather all you gas cans, propane tanks, and oxygen bottles in one place and use them as deployable mines, but don't. All that does is guarantee you set yourself on fire in the middle of a firefight, throw them out and use them on the zombies instead of your teammates.

Good hunting people.

Powerline Ethernet for Xbox 360 Game Networking

I've owned a XBox 360 for about 2 years and finally hooked it up to the Internet and set up a XBox live account last night. Why the long delay? Well unlike the Wii and PS3 (I think) Microsoft doesn't offer built in wireless and I was too damn stubborn to pay the $100 for the wireless adapter. However, the desire to get the new Fable 2 content finally drove me to hook the Xbox to the network.

Instead of getting the wireless adapter I decided to go the Powerline Ethernet route. Was it cheaper? Probably not. However, due to the location of my router I have my wife's network printer in my office/fort and I figured this powerline ethernet technology might be the key to moving it down to her office/fort. Now for the price of a 3rd powerline ethernet adapter, about $50, I can put her network printer in her fort or at the very least move it to the basement and use the same adapter as the XBox. Either way the monstrosity will be out of my office.

To accomplish my goal, I went to a local computer store, OTV Technologies, to pick up a couple Powerline Ethernet adapters. They only had two in stock: one that plugs into the power outlet with one Ethernet feed and the other was one that plugged into the power outlet offering a hub with 4 connections: thus I can hook up the printer by the XBox. After getting home I did easiest networking I've ever done. I put the one adapter in at my office and connected it to the router and then plugged the 2nd one into the power outlet downstairs and hooked up the Xbox ... bang done! My house's power lines can now perform double duty as a computer network offering 85mbs which is more than fast enough as my high speed service only does 10mbs.

In the end it cost me around $106 dollars with taxes so I might have been able to get a XBox wireless adapter for less if I hunted around. However, this way I can get the printer out of my office and can tell Microsoft they can suck my ass for the way they hose people on XBox accessories.

Video Games Live Review

Last night my wife and I went to the sold out Video Games Live concert.



Video Games Live come in and using one of your local orchestra and choir perform musical scores from video games. They included 3 giant video screens displaying images from the games or associated with the games to accompany musical score. One Winged Angel from Final Fantasy VII is amazing to see and hear performed this way.

I was a little torn about going being the Capitals vs Penguins game just went into overtime when I had to leave but I have no regrets. This was an awesome show and the Regina Symphony Orchestra and junior Philharmonic Choir sounded amazing. I can't remember when I thought they sounded better.

If this show comes to your town go.

Left 4 Dead Survival Pack: Take 2

I know we tend to keep returning to Left 4 Dead but hey that should tell you the game holds a special place in our hearts. Plus I wanted to include my 2-bits on the Survival Pack update. Unlike my hetrosexual life partner I wasn't all that excited about the Survival Pack. One I figured the final scene in the campaigns was difficult enough and two at the time I wasn't quite as taken with game as Rob. However, I've played a lot more Left 4 Dead lately and it as won me over and that includes the latest update.

Initially I agreed 100% with Robs first impressions of the Survival Pack. It seemed impossibly hard and that new scenario, "Last Stand", left a sour taste in my mouth: I kept thinking why didn't they just add a few more Campaigns instead. However, we have taken a step back and have been playing some of the other survival scenarios andI find myself enjoying them and the 7 minute Silver Achievement seems within reach: 7 minutes is a long time to survive when you typically play with 2 players and 2 AI controlled characters.

What do I like about it? Well first off its nice to play a game that takes less then 10 minutes. I don't all ways have the 1 to 8 hours available to sit in front of a computer or game console and lets face it the days of the quick 25 cent arcade game are over. Therefore, it's pretty cool to be working away and decide, hey I need a quick break, so you skype your buddy start a Survival Campaign and can usually make 3 attempts in less than 15 minutes. The other thing I like about it is that the AI deviates the attack enough so that the game is slightly different everytime. You just get use to defending one attack and the next time you play they are coming at you from a completely different source.

Any that's my quick take on the Survival pack and I'll let Rob add any future Left 4 Dead reviews :)