Calico Cloth "set"

Another "junk" outfit, collected while farming near Ratchet.

Farming with Fflur

Haven't played "Heledd" for a week or so, since I transferred her to my main's server (and had to change her name in the process, making this blog's title a bit irrelevant). Once her rested bonus was used up I switched back to my main, Fflur, a level 80 rogue that I've been playing, on and off, for nearly two years. During those two years, with the exception of some boosts with a friend and a couple of runs through the Nexus, Fflur has been played pretty much solo. That may change some time in the future -- if I get sick of looking at her gear, for instance -- but since I've recently decided to go for the Insane in the Membrane Feat of Strength, she's going to be a lonely rogue for at least a little while longer.

I've already got most of the required reputations into "revered", and am currently working on pushing the four goblin reps up to exalted, by farming pirates near Ratchet initially. No, I haven't done the Bloodsail grind yet, and I realise there's no official consensus on whether you need to be Honored with them at the same time as being Revered with the various goblin towns, but from what I've been able to stitch together, it seems more likely than not that doing things this way around (i.e. getting exalted with goblins first, then trashing that rep to work on Bloodsail, and finally repairing goblin rep by handing in cloth) should work.

If it doesn't, and I have to grind goblin rep all the way from Hated back to Exalted, I won't be very happy, but it's worth the gamble. Since I've already got Loremaster and Seeker titles, I've obviously completed just about every quest the goblins can throw at me - it'd be a shame to waste all that good rep. I reckon I'm about 75% certain that this is going to work.

The other (relatively minor) controversy around grinding Insane goblin rep, is whether doing the Dire Maul quest Free Knot! is more effective than simply farming the pirates in the Barrens, Tanaris and/or STV. The main argument seems to be that since you're going to need to farm Libra in DM anyway, for the Shen'dralar hand-ins, you might as well pick up the "free" goblin rep while you're there. Having done a few DM runs yesterday, I've decided to go for the pirates instead. The drop-rate for the Libra is tiny (I've had 1 drop in four complete clears of DM North), and DM is such a slow instance in terms of downtime and running between mobs, that I reckon I can make more money running Stratholme (for the Baron's mount), and just buy the Libra on the AH. One bonus of farming in the Barrens, is the (admitedly tiny) possibility of finding Recipe: Savory Deviate Delight - I've had one drop so far, and with a selling price of over 2k on my server, that's worth between 6 and 8 of the various Libra I've been buying. If it sells, of course.

To break the monotony of farming trivial mobs, I've taken to collecting "junk" armor sets. The Warped Leather "set" I'm wearing in the screenshot is such a nice looking collection that I might keep it for fishin' purposes.

Named Pet #2 - Ol' Sooty

Probably won't keep this one, but just tamed Ol' Sooty, just minutes after killing another version of him for a quest. I'm so fickle.

Bow #27 - Quillshooter

Just remembered to check the Auction House again before going back to Loch Modan to finish up the lowbie quests, and there was Quillshooter, a full +5DPS on the Harpyclaw Short Bow, which I spent 85g on without even getting a chance to use it.

According to the notes at WowHead, this one can be troublesome, as its special attack can pull aggro away from the pet. Best stick with tanking pets, once I get back to fighting things that can fight back.

Bow #26 - Taut Compound Bow

The Taut Compound Bow is a vendortrash world drop, that I happened to find in the AH for a few silver.

Bow #25 - Harpyclaw Short Bow

Another blue bow from the Auction House, and my most expensive bow so far, the Harpyclaw Short Bow cost me 85g. It's a fast weapon, but I can't find any reason (other than wasting ammo) to prefer a slow bow to a fast one, so I'm not too worried about that. Besides, soloing a hunter is a piece of cake compared to my previous experience of levelling.

Rare Spawn #17 - Boss Galgosh

Galgosh, the Stonesplinter Chieftain, hangs out in Ironband's Excavation. He dropped the Block Mallet.

Bow #24 - Daryl's Hunting Bow

Daryl's Hunting Bow is the first quest reward from the series of timed quests at Farstrider Lodge. As far as I can remember, this is the first bow I've had as a quest reward.

Rare Spawn #16 - Grizlak

Found this rare kobold in the Silver Stream mine. He dropped his cloak.

Bow #23 - Feeble Shortbow

Found the Feeble Shortbow in a chest in Stonesplinter Valley, doing the trogg quests for Ironforge rep. Grey bows might be the trickiest to find, since they're unlikely to crop up in the Auction House, unless there's more saddoes like me on the server.

Named Pet #1 - Mangeclaw

Because collecting bows isn't enough pointlessness for one toon, I'm going to try to tame as many "named" beasts as possible, as well. Already missed a few, I expect, although my stabled cat, Rhithwen, almost qualifies, as she's a Ghost Saber.

This little beaty, my first bear, is Mangeclaw, and she's part of a little quest chain chain at South Gate, Dun Moragh. She's the lowest level white bear in the game. Maybe she'll replace my old faithful crab as tanking pet of choice.

Rare Spawn #15 - Edan the Howler

Mopping up the lowbie quests in dwarfland, came across this fellah in the back of the wendigo cave. He dropped a Bloodstained Knife.

Rare Spawn #14 - Lord Malathrom

Found Lord Malathrom lurking in one of the side-crypts in the Duskwood catacombs, and he very kindly dropped the Spiked Collar (Use: Summons a guardian felhunter that will protect you for 1 hour). Looking forward to playing with that, possibly when I go and mop up lowbie Qs later on, since it apparently is more trouble than it's worth around "real" mobs.

Bow #22 - Reinforced Bow

The Reinforced Bow, also from Lina in Stormwind.

Bow #21 - Polished Shortbow

Bought a couple of simple bows from Lina Stover, in Stormwind. The Polished Shortbow cost me 60c, which makes a pleasant change.

Bow #20 - Ranger Bow

This is where my collecting fetish starts getting silly. This Ranger Bow is the first blue quality weapon I've seen in the AH, it cost just under 50g, and it's not quite as good as the green bow I already had. But since I've started collecting, and since it's not enough to simply buy the thing but I have to equip it and take a screenshot from the log-in screen, that's an instant 50g down the drain.

I will have to transfer this toon to my main's server, or I'll run out of gold.

Still, it's a pretty bow. Maybe I'll use it anyway. The +1 Agility makes up for some of the DPS loss.

Bow #19 - Precision Bow

Picked up a cheapish Precision Bow from the AH while visting SW to buy herbs for Seasoned Wolf Kabobs.

Found the next bow, my first blue, at the same time.

Leatherworking update

While I'm in town, working on my Leatherworking to get it up to 150, by making Dark Leather Belts. I'm following the Economical leatherworking training guide on WowWiki, which seems pretty straightforward.

Bow #18 - Long Redwood Bow

The Long Redwood is a level 30 bow, and does a little bit more DPS than anything else I've found so far, so I'm going with this for now. It's also the prettiest bow so far, with metallic detailing around the grip and at the tips of the bow.

Bow #17 - Whipwood Recurve Bow

The Whipwood Recurve Bow is a little bit faster than the Ravenwood, has the same model (but without the silverwork around the grip), and may be my bow of choice for a while. I'm such a newbie huntard that I'm not really sure if I do more damage with a faster bow or not. I'll probably get around to looking it up one of these days.

Bow #16 - Ravenwood Bow

Passing through Stormwind on my way to STV, and there are three new bows in the Auction House to add to my collection. The first is a Ravenwood Bow, which I probably won't use at all, since it's neither the fastest or the hardest hitting of the 3. It is the first bow to have any significant detailing on the model, though, so for that I salute you, otherwise useless bow.

Bow #15 - Reinforced Bow

The Reinforced Bow is another vendor bought item, again from the bowyer in Booty Bay.

Bow #14 - Heavy Recurve Bow

Picked up a Heavy Recurve Bow from the bowyer in Booty Bay, while picking up the FP there.

Bow #13 - Archer's Longbow

Picked up an Archer's Lowbow in the AH for a few G, a slight improvement over my previous bow. Almost all the rest of my kit is lowbie stuff that needs replacing, but there's very little available in the AH. I picked up some Dusky Leather Leggings as well, so Heledd is still looking pretty gothed up. The new gloves are Wolfclaws, a slight improvement over the previous quest reward ones, but a bit pricy too.

Rare Spawn #13 - Prince Raze

Back again after a bit of a break, and lots of lovely rest bonus to use up. I'm probably going to transfer Heledd onto a different server once she reaches level 30 - I can't bring myself to transfer before then, because I'd have to leave a good chunk of gold behind.

Working my way through the Qs in Ashenvale, came across this guy in Xavian. Easy enough, despite the 4 levels difference, and the add. He dropped a Durable Hat of the Whale, which was a stroke of luck, as I'd completely forgotten about hats being available at this level, and was bare-headed.

Back to Darnassus to train level 28 and level up Leatherworking a bit more. Getting behind with that, since I didn't want to waste gold on powerlevelling. The beasts at my level are now dropping Medium Leather, which I can't use yet, so I might pop over to the Wetlands to farm dinosaurs for a bit.

Rare Spawn #12 - Sergeant Brashclaw

The fourth and final rare spawn from Westfall (there's another, undead guy, somewhere, but I couldn't find him tonight) was Sergeant Brashclaw, a gnoll chief. Don't remember ever seeing this chap either, but I may be wrong. He dropped his Chopper.

Rare Spawn #11 - Master Digger

The third of this evening's rare spawns from Westfall was Master Digger, a kobold miner who hangs out in the depths of Janglegold Mine. Don't think I've ever come across him before, but I cheated and looked up the rare spawns on Wowhead. He dropped Rock Chipper, a white quality 2-handed axe.

Rare Spawn #10 - Slark

Slark is the second of two rare murlocs on the Westfall coast. He dropped his skin. Must be that time of year for murlocs.

Rare Spawn #9 - Brack

Brack is one of two rare murlocs which spawn on the beach in Westfall. He dropped Brackclaw and a bonus green, Raiders Boots of the Bear.

Bow #12 - Long Battle Bow

Don't even remember where I picked up the Long Battle Bow. Let this be a warning to you, kids; don't play Warcraft drunk.

Rare Spawn #8 - Mother Fang

Mother Fang is the rare spawn spider who sits at the back of the Jasperlode Mine, in my experience almost without fail, so is either on a short timer, or nobody ever bothers to go back there. She dropped the Web-covered Boots, a nice looking pair of lowbie cloth "stocking-style" boots, if you're into that kind of thing.

Rare Spawn #7 - Narg the Taskmaster

Running through the lowbie quests in Elwynn, found Narg lurking in the mine. Sharpened my spear on his knobbly little head. He dropped the Ratty Old Belt, which I'm sure will sell for about a million gold.

New pet, new hairdo, new weapons

Managed to get myself a Ghost Saber pet, which'll probably be my main Ferocity kitty from now on.

Made the trip to the Eastern Kingdoms, to do lowbie quests - I wasn't going to bother, but I quite like bumbling around, and it'll also give me a chance to train up other weapons, starting with crossbows and polearms. I'm also almost out of cash, since I ignored my best intentions, and power-levelled enchanting for a bit last night. Doing the lowbie quests will give me a chance to make a bit a money, but without spending too much, since I won't be levelling for a while. Just using vendor bought weapons for the ones I need to skill-up.

Rare Spawn #6 - Mugglefin

Mugglefin, the rare murloc from Ashenvale. He dropped the Defender Spaulders, which usually sell quite well. Which reminds me, I need to get some shoulder armour.

Just dinged 22, so back to Darnassus for training etc.

Bow #11 - Fine Shortbow

Bought a Fine Shortbow from the AH. At least now I have enchanting these things aren't a complete waste of gold.

Bow #10 - Mishandled Recurve Bow

Mishandled Recurve Bow, a vendor trash quality bow, pricked up in AH for a few silver. The ridiculous hotpants are a Ceremonial Leather Loincloth, which were actually a downgrade from the kecks I had before, but they just look so funny I had to wear them.

Bow #9 - Short Ash Bow

Another fairly common world drop, picked up for a couple of gold in the AH.

Bow #8 - Light Bow

Light Bow is a fairly common world drop, which I picked up from the AH.

Rare Spawn #5 - Strider Clutchmother

Realised just after downing the Clutchmother that I should've tried taming her, but to be honest, I think she would've been beyond me at this stage; four levels above me, and two adds to boot.

She dropped a Defender Tunic of the Eagle, which was nice of her.

Bye bye, herbalism

Dropped herbalism and have taken up enchanting. Probably wouldn't have bothered, but the hunter's Track Beasts/Humanoids/whatever is too useful to turn it off in favour of herb tracking. I've maxed 'chanting on my main, so I know the ropes, know it makes good money at high levels, and know it's a royal pain in the arse to level at low-levels. Being patience and not wasting too money on power-levelling is my intention, for now.

Overnight in the Auction House

Sold about 25 auctions, and made nearly 50g, which would be difficult to spend on a level 13 toon without some serious twinking. I've upgraded Heledd's bags to 12-slotter Large Knapsacks, intending to avoid the middle-ground BoE bags until I can afford a full set of Frostweave Bags, or even Glacial Bags, which seem a lot more common on the AH than I remember, but still cost about 300g each.

Rare Spawn #4 - Lady Moongazer

Think I've only seen Lady Moongazer once before, in all the times I've quested in Ameth'Aran, so she took me a bit by surprise - I thought she was the other, much softer, nightelf ghost that hangs around there. She dropped some nice Bandit Boots of the Monkey.

Bow #7 - Heavy Shortbow

Another AH purchase, this Heavy Shortbow is the best bow available at the moment.

Bow #6 - Hunting Bow

Lleucu's auctions are really starting to come in now; just made nearly 20g on Small Eggs, so have upgraded much of Heledd's gear. Being an idiot obsessive, I bought this Hunting Bow, along with another which'll immediately replace it, so the only time I equip this fellah is to take the screenshot.

Other new gear includes Blackened Defias Boots and Gloves and a rather fetching Gypsy Tunic of Agility.

Rare Spawn #3 - Grimmaw

Found Grimmaw, who dropped the Pioneer Boots, while on my way to tackle Ursal the Mauler.

Soloing once you get your pet does seem ridiculously easy. I know I'm a bit anal about doing all available quests, so I tend to be at a higher level than necessary, but I'm not getting any down time at all.

Bow #5 - Ashwood Bow

The Ashwood is a quest reward from Crown of the Earth. After filling all those vials, you'd think you'd deserve something that's a bit better than the bows sold by the newbie vendors.

At least it's a different colour, I suppose.

Bow #4 - Laminated Recurve Bow

Another vendor bow, the Laminated Recurve Bow is a significant improvement, but I think I'm about to get an even better one from a quest hand-in.

Check out my twinky vendor-bought armor. Probably the last suit of vendor armor I'll be wearing, but always a fave.

Rare Spawn #2 - Fury Shelda

Another fairly common spawn, Fury Shelda dropped the Bloody Chain Boots which I'll try in the AH.

Starting to get a few greens now, but nothing I can use without training up new weapons. And of course, after spending the little cash I have on cheap bags, I had 2 6-slotters drop on consecutive kills. A bit slow in the AH, nothing else has shifted yet.

Rare Spawn #1 - Uruson

Uruson is an old favourite, who seems to spawn quicker than any other "rare" mob. He dropped the leggings, which were actually an upgrade, since I'm un-twinked, and still relying on drops and quest-rewards for my gear.

Bow #3 - Cracked Shortbow

Cracked Shortbow, vendor trash bow, found in a Battered Chest in Lord Melenas' cave. Not as good as my current, vendor-bought bow.

Just before tackling Melenas, who wouldn't have been too tough at level 8, a druid came up alongside me in the cave. I offered to group, he ignored me, then he pulled Melenas' guard, leaving me to take the main man, complete my quest, and plunder the chest while the druid was still healing.