I made Thrall, the high warchief of the orcs, cry.

A few nights ago, I explored an area of Hellfire Peninsula just to fill in the map. There were a bunch of orcs up there. But they were not the normal red of an enemy — they were sort of a dark crimson, maybe a dark orange-red. I stayed clear of them.

Today I went to finish a quest that had me following a spirit wolf. The wolf led me up to that area, and I found the orcs were now showing green—friendly. The wolf took me to the leader of the orc camp. The leader was surprised to learn that orcs from beyond the Dark Portal had come back to Outland. He gave me a quest to take a letter to Thrall in Orgrimmar.

I took the letter to Thrall and got to see a little drama. Thrall’s surprise and excitement to learn that some uncorrupted orcs still lived in the old homeland. Was kind of cool to watch. He actually walked around and talked, even kneeled. A couple of his guards moved about and one conversed with him. Now I’m Thrall’s emissary to the orcs in Outland.

Later, I did a completely different quest: “From the Abyss.” I had to go to the Void Cliffs and summon Baron Galaxis, a big level 62 (non-elite) voidwalker, to kill him and get his soulstone.

When I summoned him, he came out and postured for a few moments and then summoned two more voidwalkers. I killed him and then his two minions. He dropped no loot, and no soulstone. I summoned and killed him and his buddies again, but again he dropped no loot.

I went to Thottbot for a hint. That’s where I learned you must kill the two voidwalkers he summons with him first. So I summoned the Baron a third time, killed his two minions, then him, and finished the quest. That’s rather annoying. Without Thottbot, I would probably never have completed that quest.

Bullgrit
bullgrit@totalbullgrit.com

I did the “Shizz Work” quest for the goblin outside of Thrallmar. It’s funny. The goblin has lost his keys, and he thinks one of his fel hounds has swallowed them. He wants you to take the fel hound out for a walk, kill some boars, let him eat them, then search his poop for his keys. After searching the poo, you get a debuff, “Stanky: you smell bad.” Hilarious.

A couple nights ago, I had been on only about 20 minutes when some level 70 dwarf hunter passed me on the road. I was killing fel orcs, but I noticed the dwarf eyeing me over. It’s interesting how you can tell someone’s attitude or “look” in this game, even though there is no real facial expressions, and even when they are too far away to see such anyway. But I ignored him after the first “meeting of the eyes.”

So while I’m fighting a fel orc, suddenly, from behind, I’m hit by something. I thought maybe a fel orc mage had aggroed on me and was zapping me with lightning. I figured to ignore him till I finished off the grunt.

Then I got hit again, and I noticed how bad the damage was. I panned my view around and found that it was the dwarf hunter shooting me. “What the hell?!” How’d he target me? I got hit again for big damage.

About the time the fel orc dropped, I died. Without ever returning fire on the dwarf. Son of a gun. (No pun intended.)

I was flabbergasted for a few minutes, wondering how in the world he was able to fire on me. I saw my PvP flag was on, but I never have it on. How did he turn on my flag?

Then I remembered that a couple days previous, I had captured the PvP towers. I figure I must have accidentally left on my PvP flag. Damn, that’s stupid.

Bullgrit
bullgrit@totalbullgrit.com

I reported a dollars for gold in-game mail last night. I gave the name of the sender in my contact. While playing, a GM contacted me (first time I’ve talked to a GM). I took screen shots of the conversation:

********

GM: ::Suddenly a cold chill passes up your spine as a dark hooded figure appears out of the corner of your eye. The experience leaves you weary.:: Salutations [Me] this is Game Master [XX]. May I please have a moment to discuss your petition?

Me: 1 moment please

GM: Hello [Me]! Since you are not available at this moment, I can send you an E-mail with a response to your petition if you wish. Is this what you wish [Me]?

Me: i can talk now

Me: I am getting a lot of spam mail in my game mailbox. mail offering to sell gold for dollars.

GM: I see. I would like to thank you for submitting your petition, and bringing this to our attention [Me]. Rest assured that all appropriate action will be taken immediately. =)

Me: my but you sound like a bot

GM: Thank you. I love those comments. =)

GM: Trust me [Me]. I will be taking care of this. ::CLANK CLANK, WHIRRRRRRR:: =p

Me: thanks

Me: lol

GM: You’re are profusely welcome. =) Do you have any questions or other concerns before we part ways [Me]?

Me: nope, just the spam.

GM: Okay. I hope you have a pleasant evening. =)

GM: ::In an instant, all your senses seem heightened as Game Master [XX] fades from existence. A voice echoes in your mind….:: It was a pleasure to be of service, and may all your attacks be critical!!!

GM: Your feedback is highly valued. For any comments or concerns about the quality of service provided by our Customer Service Staff, please email wowgmfeedback-us@blizzard.com.

********

That is my first contact with a GM. I still think it was a bot. [Edit: I’ve learned that the GMs are real people, but they use a lot of macros, so they can say a lot without having to type it all in every time.]

Bullgrit
bullgrit@totalbullgrit.com

I used to always have bad luck in making gold with my orc hunter. But it seems I’ve shaken that curse by entering the Dark Portal. Cha-ching! I probably make around 10-20 gold an hour without particularly trying. Green drops and rewards sell for 2-8gp to vendors. Humanoids drop around 10sp in coins and runecloth (which easily sells at 20 for 2gp). I’ve had a few drops sell on the AH for ~10-20gp.

I’ve donned at least 3 new armor pieces that were better than my previous. There’s just something weird about taking off something that gives +24 AGI to replace it with something better.

My hunter’s ranged damage per second (DPS) has increased about 15 points in the span of one level gain. Impressive. Outland has really increased the power level for us casual gamers.

Bullgrit
bullgrit@totalbullgrit.com