Another Tick in the Box

Thanks to ex-SB'ers, and a couple of PUGs, I finally completed Arcatraz. After turning in the quests, that had actually left me 1000 rep short of Revered with Sha'tar. I was resigned to a run of one of the instances. But when I finished the Akama questline, I had a pleasent surprise with a 1000 rep with Sha'tar. Woot! Revered.

Main thing is this opens the possibility of Heroics for Mechanaar, which looks to be rather easy... :) Badges & Primal Nethers, here I come!

Screenshots

Some screenshots of the end-sequence...

Here we go...



Illidan Stormrage...



Oops... Found out...



Escape back to Shat...



Onyx Drake... :)

Done!

Just hit exalted and finished off the Netherwing grind... Being flown back to Shat City as I write this... Cool...

End in Sight

12,025/21,000

Which means 4 more days... I can shorten this to three days if I either finish the races (very unlikely) or find 3 more eggs. While it's tough to depend on the RNG, so far, the odds are that I find at least an egg each night (think the record is three). So, might happen! 3 days and 3 eggs...

Stupid Race

OK. The Dragonmaw race is going to drive me mad...

I've been stuck at the Mulverick's race for awhile, and have been tantalisingly close quite a few times... I'm seriously tempted to skip this (& the last race). In the time I spent on this race, I could have farmed the mats or the money for a Riding Crop... :p

Anyway, I'm about 1000 away from Revered... After that, would need to see how soloable the attack on Scryer town is...

Otherwise, Gren got her flying mount. It'll help in the rounds at Nagrand for mining, which is something I should get back to once I'm done with the Netherwing grind.

Netherwing Update

So far, hasn't been too bad... After four days of grinding, I'm at 5475/6000 Friendly. Should hit Honoured tonight, which will mean a lot of time on the races quest.

I've done some calculations. Assuming I do all the quests and all the daily quests every day, I should hit Exalted on the 16th Sep. However, I should lose one day to server maintenance, so make that 17th Sep.

However, if I can gather 8 more eggs, that will cut it short by a day.

The second question is the Daily quest for the defence of Scryer town. I've assumed that it's feasible to do every day (which means soloable, or can find a group for it every day). If not, it will add two days to the grind, which isn't too bad either. However, if I can gather 3 more eggs, then it'll only add one day... Confused? Hah!

However, money-wise, this grind has been rewarding. I'm estimating at least 70g a day, from quests and drops. Should be able to afford the flying mount for Gren by the time I get the drake for Mart.

Also, I've decided to get the Onyx Netherdrake. Looks the nicest among the bunch of them.

Netherwing

Broke a few piggybanks, but got the 5K & started the rep grind. The drop rates on these quests are a pain... The 40 crystals daily are going to be a problem... Oh well... It's something to keep occupied. At least the grey drops aren't bad money-wise...

Factions after Patch

Not much changes, but added in the new factions to this. Left out the pure raiding one since it looks like tat will be out of the question.

Consortium Rep (Part Deux)

Some more details have emerged regarding the new 2.1 content patch.

For one thing, Revered for Consortium will make available a new engineering receipe. It's not too exciting, just another Seaforium type thing, so not sure if it's worth the effort... Anyway, will update the factions page accordingly.

Other than that, the good news is the increased drop rates for leather as well as reduction in thorium requirements for Jewelcrafting. That should save some money and effort.

Consortium Rep

From the Wow website, the new patch will include new content for characters in 'good standing' with the Consortium, whatever that means...

If Honoured is all that is require, then I'm fine. However, I won't be surprised if Revered is required, since that seems to be the level required to open new content (such as Heroic instances). Of course, Sporeggar only required Friendly.

I think I'll put a short hold on the Consortium quests that I have outstanding for now, just to evaluate the situation.

Besides, haven't had time recently, with the grinding of Primal Water and Netherweb Spider Silk for my Frozen Shadoweave Set, as well as my Scryer rep.

Anyway, from the looks of things, it looks like Blizz is really putting effort to include solo and five man content for those who are not inclined to raid (even Karazhan). Good for me, I suppose...

Factions

This is just to help me remember the target factions I'll try to achieve for my guys (& gals)... Brackets indicate good-to-have. There is also a deliberate slant towards their roles (Warlock and Paladin are to be my mains, raiders, best gear people. Hunter is my farmer. Warrior is my BS/LW provider & Druid (eventually) the alchemy provider.)

Thrallmar
Need Honoured for the key to the Heroic mode for Hellfire Citadel instances.

Exalted includes a nice caster sword (unless I get the dream Greatsword of Horrid Dreams), Blacksmithing pattern for Shield spike, and Leatherworking pattern for +AP/+CSR leg armor patch. 24 slot Ammo Pouch pattern is also available at Revered. Alchemy receipes are available by Honoured.

Warlock - Honoured (Exalted)
Paladin - Honoured
Hunter - No requirement (Exalted)
Warrior - Exalted
Druid - Honoured

The Mag'har
You get to buy a goat at Exalted... There is also a decent Mail head gear and 2-handed axe. At Revered, there is Leatherworking receipe for shaman leather gear, and (useless) transmutation receipe for Alchemy. At honoured is the 18 slot quiver for hunters.

Warlock - No requirement
Paladin - No requirement
Hunter - No requirement
Warrior - Revered
Druid - Revered

Cenarion Expedition
Need Honoured for the key to the Heroic mode for Coilfang Reservoir instances.

Exalted includes a nice caster ring, nice healing off-hand, Jewelcrafting & Blacksmithing pattern for Nature Resistance, Leatherworking pattern for +Sta/+Agi Leg armor patch and the Receipe for Flask of Distilled Wisdom. Revered provides the best viable arrows in the game pre-raiding, as well as the +AP/+HR patch to head armor as well as a transmutation receipe.

Exalted also allows the purchase of the Hippogryph mount.

Warlock - Honoured (Exalted)
Paladin - Revered (Exalted)
Hunter - Revered
Warrior - Exalted
Druid - Revered (Exalted)

Sporeggar
Not many rewards with just a couple of very nice Alchemy receipes at Revered and Exalted (potion to reduce aggro!). There is a nice wand at Revered, but it won't last long, as there are better wands from quest rewards later. The cooking receipe for pet buff food is nice, but available at Neutral.

There are a bunch of decent quest rewards available at Friendly. The quest rewards seems to be very catered for specific classes, Staff for Druid, 2-handed mace for Pally and Shamans (& possibly Druids), Polearm for Hunters & 2-handed sword for warriors. It's an easy quest anyhow. Good to get unless you've got a better Blue from instance drops. At neutral is a quest in Underbog. Decent rewards but nothing too exciting.

When at Exalted, can get the Sporebat pet as well.

Warlock - Neutral
Paladin - Friendly
Hunter - Friendly
Warrior - Friendly
Druid - Exalted

The Scryers
(Will consider for Warlock, Paladin, and Druid only as they are my Scryers)
The caster ring and the superior shoulder enchant is at exalted. Pattern for the epic spellthread is also at exalted. Not much choice then...

Warlock - Exalted
Paladin - Exalted
Druid - Honoured

The Aldor
(Will consider for Hunter & Warrior only as they are my Aldors)
Nice one-handed sword and the superior shoulder enchant at exalted. Patterns for Fire Resist Leatherworking and Blacksmithing culminate at exalted also. For the hunter the green shoulder enchants are available at Honoured.

Hunter - No requirement (Honoured)
Warrior - Exalted

Lower City
Need Honoured for the key to the Heroic mode for Auchindoun instances.

At exalted, nice caster mace for pally (it's has less crit but more stats as compared to the Thrallmar sword), as well as a nice polearm for DPS usage. Flask of Chromatic Resistance receipe is also available then. Decent jewelcrafting patterns at Revered, including one for a Frost Resist neck (if this become necessary). The other alchemy receipe (for Major Shadow Power) is also at Revered. Arcane Resist cloak pattern is available at Honoured for Tailoring. At Revered is the pattern for 24 slot quiver.

Warlock - Honoured
Paladin - Revered (Exalted)
Hunter - No requirement
Warrior - Revered
Druid - Revered (Exalted)

The Sha'tar
Need Honoured for the key to the Heroic mode for Tempest Keep instances.

At exalted is a very nice healing mace & a nice tanking shield. Revered holds the +dmg/+hit enchant to head as well as a decent +spell crit trinket and healing to weapon & ring enchants. Receipe for Flask of the Titans is available at Exalted but Revered holds another transmutation receipe & pattern for Alchemist's Stone.

Warlock - Revered
Paladin - Exalted
Hunter - No requirement
Warrior - No requirement
Druid - Revered (Exalted)

The Consortium
Lots of Jewelcrafting receipes up to Revered, which also has an interesting Ring enchant. There are Leatherworking receipes (looks like for Rogue) going up to Revered. The 18-slot Ammo Bag is at Honoured, as is the Tailoring receipe for Gem bags. Engineering receipe for Seaforium at Revered. The monthly free bag of gems isn't too shabby either... The key to Yor's chamber in Heroic Mana-Tomb will require Exalted.

Warlock - Revered (Exalted)
Paladin - Revered (Exalted)
Hunter - Honoured
Warrior - Revered
Druid - No requirement

Keepers of Time
Need Honoured for the key to the Heroic mode for Caverns of Time instances.

At exalted is the receipe for Flask of Supreme Power as well as the formula for agility gloves enchant. Revered are the Jewelcrafting patterns including one for Fire Resist neck. Will need Honoured for the Drums of Panic pattern for grinding Leatherworking. The tanking head enchant is at Revered.

Warlock - Honoured
Paladin - Exalted
Hunter - No requirement
Warrior - Honoured (Revered)
Druid - No requirement (Exalted)

Sha'tari Skyguard
Not much point to this faction unless I get bored for a flying manta. Looks like I'll skip it.

Netherwing
Same here, unless I get bored to grind for the flying dragon; which does look nice. Maybe I'll do it...

Ogri'la
The only decent thing at Exalted is the caster off-hand. There is a decent +heal cloak for Revered. If I get bored, maybe I'll grind for it... If not, guess will skip...

Warlock - No requirement (Exalted)
Paladin - No requirement (Revered)
Hunter - No requirement
Warrior - No requirement
Druid - No requirement (Revered)

Scryer vs Aldor

Wowwiki has a nice comparison for this here. Basically there isn't a huge impact. The Exalted gear would not be so replaceable so they will be a point of consideration. The big difference will be the inscriptions. Tailoring spellthreads will also be a consideration for Mart.

Warlock - Scryer
Not a hard decision. The +dmg spellthread pretty much confirms it. Would have prefer the marginally higher +dmg on the Aldor inscription, but it's not a biggie. The Exalted ring and the Revered trinket are nice.

Paladin - Scryer
Being a blood-elf, Aldor would be a slightly longer grind. In the end, the Scryer quest reward neck helped to confirm it. If I go healing, the healing staff can be considered.

Warrior - Aldor
No real preference either way, but I marginally prefer the +def armor patch over the mana regen patch...

Hunter - Aldor
Not really important either, since I doubt her rep will get high enough to matter... But I'll take Aldor for some variety

Druid - Scryer
The only alchemy receipe is with Scryer... Easy choice, I guess...

Chinese New Year!

Another festival, another pretty dress... :)

On a seperate note, finally Honoured with the Scryers on my lock. No biggie but now have access to the Blue Spellthread.

You Don't Say..........

Something to keep an eye for if you are playing one of the two new races.

Draenei and Blood Elves start out as friendly to the Aldors and Scryers respectively, and hostile to the opposing faction. This means that it makes it slightly easier if you join the 'right' faction and a lot harder if you join the 'wrong' faction. For example, an Aldor Blood Elf would still be Neutral only after doing the choosing sides quest and will need to do the repeatable turn-ins to get to Friendly.

Coffee, Tea or Me?

Unfortunately, it's not some voluptuous temptress offering this, but a much tougher choice is presented to players now... Aldor or Scryer...

While I have yet to reach that stage of the game, I've been reading up on this when I found out while researching Reputations...

Basically, when you reach Shattrath City, you are presented with a choice of joining either the Draenei priests (Aldor) or Blood Elf renegades (Scryer). Gaining reputation with one costs results in a loss of reputation in the other. Both sides offer differing rewards and changing reputation later on is a HUGE hassle. There is a nice comparison of the two sides here

Looking at it, it looks like I'll be going with Scryer for my warlock and pally and Aldor for my hunter and warrior. Guess I'll know more when I get there.

Reputation Grinding...

I finally understood the point of the Silithus rep grinding nonsense that was Cenarion Circle... It's to prepare us for TBC...

I started grinding Cenarion Expedition rep last night. It felt so familiar. Running around, tagging mobs before someone else does. Anyway, it's stupid... I'm Exalted with the HQ, but then go down to Base become Neutral again... Oh well, can't be helped. At least I see little reason to grind to Exalted, just Revered should be enough to drive me insane.

But while researching this, I realised there are so many reps to grind now. Lower City, Thrallmar and Cenarion Expedition are critical for the keys to heroic modes. The others you could probably skip unless you require a receipe for your crafter professions. The gear you could get are nice but I think there are (possibly) less painful ways to get them. We shall see...