20 days of…WoW Blogging Challenge: Day 1 Intoduce Yourself

Well, it looks like life has conspired against me.

I have to give a great big Shout Out to Dwarven Battle Medic.  Thanks for mentioning me as one of the “new bloggers.  I’m not exactly new; but I had let the blog go dormant for a bit. I’ve since started it back up. I have to admit, that DBM has to be one of my favorite bloggers; right behind BBB and Ratters.

I’ve also started following Hello Tauren.

HAI, Cowfeet!

She is doing the 20 days of wow thingy; and has inspired me to do the same. So, here it goes!

Day 1, Introduce Yourself!

Hi. I’m Zwingli.

I’m a Nelf-Huntard.

Ok, I’m actually a human being. White, male, late 30s, married with a couple of kids.

Are you afraid yet?

Wait, it gets better.

I’m also a minister. Yeah, that’s right, I work in a church.

Are you still reading? I can hear people running for the door.

That’s ok, I understand.

Actually, that is the main reason I’m keeping this blog semi-anonymous. A few people know who I am. Most don’t however. Simply put, I would prefer to not put up with the drama that can come along with being a member of the clergy, that also plays a Fantasy MMO. You can’t imagine the grief a minister can catch within the walls of a church. There isn’t a forum troll alive that can compare to it.

It is a matter of identity. Every where I go, it is Brother this, and Brother that. That is the thing with this type of vocation, you’re never off the clock. Every person in town knows I’m the pastor of so-and-so church. But, when I log onto WoW, I’m just one of the many players online at that moment.

I find a great release of stress by leveling characters and doing dailies. While my RL job has very few concrete points of completion, rarely is a job over, much less “well done.” I find reaching “Exalted” with a faction rather satisfying.  In a job that has LOTS of solo time in it, lots of alone time (especially since people really don’t want to get to know you beyond the professional facade); participating in an Guild Achievements, Instance or Raid can be hugely gratifying. Helping a group achieve a set difficult goal is just wonderful!

So, this is me. I shall continue to use the name Zwingli (named after Ulrich Zwingli, a Protestant Reformer). I’m the guy playing WoW, after the stress of funeral, hospital visits, wedding, or one of those really nasty committee meetings that we end up finding ourselves in at times.

One thing I will always remember: WoW is just a game. Whether we are leveling, instancing or raiding; it just isn’t that important. In real life; the monsters are bigger, hit harder, and have much longer lasting consequences for a wipe.

Hi, I’m Zwingli. I’m a Nelf-Huntard.

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The Ants Go Marching

After reading the Dear Dwarfling‘s sweet post entitled, “Go to Sleep, Little Dwarfling,” I thought it might be appropriate to offer this for a new dad’s approval.

I sang this to my first child almost every night for at least an hour, usually starting around 2am.  There are some children that just need a daddy’s arms to hold them, and their voice to sooth them.

I found singing this song while adventuring in Azjol-Nerub Instance entertaining as well.

Z

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Worgen Wolf Form

Eli's Wolf Form

World, meet Eli.

Eli, meet world.

Eli is my Worgen Druid on Sentinel’s Server.  He’s been a blast to level, really a lot of fun.

Am I the only one that thinks Worgens (of all types) should get a wolf form?!

Seriously!

Even if it was only for Druid, I would gladly give up the Swift or Cat form for a Wolf Form (dps).

What do you think?  Should Worgens have a wolf form?

Z

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A Lot of Bait

What are your hobbies within WoW?

I enjoy the different professions.  I especially enjoy Leather Working and Skinning.  Since they’ve added XP gains to the gathering professions, it has been really enjoyable. But, I enjoy participating in one of the professions above all of the others.

I really like to fish in game!

I know, it is crazy.  I get it.  Most people I run into hate it, and only level it because they feel they have to.  But not me!  I really enjoy it.

Back in Vanilla WoW, I ran up and down the Feralas coastline seeking out Stonescale Eel Pools for a friend.  I was burned out on questing and grinding.  He asked me if I every fished, and I gave him a hearty, “Yar!”  He asked if I could fish up some Stonescale Eel for him, so that he could make some protection potions for his raiding guild.

I went at it with a vengeance!  I think that I fished for at least a month, a couple of hours per day. If you know that area, there were a couple of repeatable quests along that shoreline as well.  One was for giants and the other for water elementals.  I did them so much, by just running into them as I fished, that they eventually grayed out to me.

Now, I have an even better reason to fish!  There are guild achievements for fishing, and I’m excited about one in particular.  It is the “That’s A Lot of Bait” achievement.  Once you get it, you have the option purchasing a new guild cooking Recipe: Seafood Magnifique Feast.

Cooking is possibly my second favorite, right after Fishing. A couple of other guildies and I are tackling the 10,000 fish, fished up from fishing pools, that are needed for the achievement.

This kind of thing is just one of the many reasons I enjoy this game so much!

What ways do you enjoy killing time in WoW?

Z

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Hippogryph Ride

Hippogryph Ride to Auberdine

Zwingli took off immediately to Auberdine.

“Alli, I have to get to Alli,“ was all I could think about.

Thinking back, I couldn’t help but wince at the last time they had spoken.  There were words in anger. Careless words. Those words that you can only say to loved ones, the kind of words you wouldn’t dare say to anyone else.

“You want to what?” I asked with an incredulous tone.

“You’ve got to be kidding me! You shouldn’t go, there is no use in your going.” trying to talk her out of a useless errand.

“But Zwing, dear. They are getting close to a cure; and they are making efforts in Felwood as well. The Emerald Circle is doing wonders!  We are so close!” she pressed.

“Auberdine, then to Felwood?” I continued to rant. “You have no clue as to the dangers. You’ve no idea what it is like out there right now. I know, I’ve been in the thick of it!” I continued, in my futile attempt to get her to stay.

“I FORBID IT… *sputtering* This…This, useless, priestly, whimsical quest of your!”

It is amazing what an idiot will say when he is loosing an argument.

She looked at me, with those icey blue eyes.  “You forbid what?” Letting the words come out slowly, dripping with acid.

“Now, I. Will. Tell. You!” Her anger seeped from every fiber of her being.

“I will go to Auberdine. I will help with the continued cure for the land and animals. And you will like it, or your bed will be awefully LONELY AND COLD FOR A VERY LONG TIME!” she then proceeded to stomp out of our home.

All I could do was stand there in stunned rage.

Those were the last words before the Shaking, before the devestation.

“Cenarius, if I’ve ever brought honor to your name, please let her be safe.” Tears begin to stream horizontally across my face as I urge the hippogryph to go faster across the sea.

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By the Tears of Elune…

I lived right outside of the city of Darnassus…the far side from the portal.  I’ve made my home next to my childhood trainers, the skinning and leatherworking trainers along the road down from Darnassus.  They have been kind to me, coaxing the very best out of me.  Bursting from my abode, I saw the Maneweavers running my way.

“Zwingli, are you alright?” The worry in Nadyia’s eyes were apparent.  “Zwing, is Alli’Niah with you?” said Radnaal as he ran towards me.

Alli! I had forgotten that she went to Auberdine!

“No. No, she isn’t here.  She’s in Auberdine helping with the sickness that has stricken the animals. Are you two ok?” I said to the Maneweavers.

“Please, please goddess of my tears, let her be ok,” I think to myself.

“I’m sorry, but I must get going.  I need to see how Auberdine has made out,” I said while running off towards Darnassus.

The city looked well, considering the strength of the shaking.  Running through the Military quarter, past the great tree and the temple, I finally made it to the Ruth’theran Portal.

Practically diving through it, I came upon the scene of my nightmares.  The land torn asunder.  Devastation everywhere.

I had to find the Flight Master, I had to find my mount. Whistling shrilly, I head the screech from above.  There he was, far up above, Telli my Cenarion War Hppogriff.  Swooping down, I lept upon his back to survey the damage.

“By the Tears of Elune!” I said breathlessly, when I finally got up above the…island.  It was totally cut off from the rest of the tree.

“Goddess, help us.” I choked out through the tears.

Looking east, I started to make my way to Auberdine. To my family home. To my love, my heart, my love…my wife, Alli’Niah.

I could almost feel the tears of the goddess fall along with mine.

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