Druids and Experience in Classic WOW

The quickest way to level your druid in Classic WOW is to find and kill mobs that are all your level. 

If you kill something that is a lesser level than you, you get less experience than usual, which makes sense.  Oddly, the same thing happens if you kill something of a higher level than you-still less experience than usual!

If you kill a mob that is lower level than you, still less experience.  If you kill a mob that's all higher level, still less experience.

The best way to proceed if you are a druid according to the Solo MMO Player is to find a mob with everyone the same level as you.  This isn't easy as mobs generally are a mix of levels, but it's worth thinking about as you run from Point A to Point B in Classic WOW….

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Guild Wars 2: PvP Maps and Strategies

A general article about PvP in GW2, with maps, proposed strategies and other help.
http://guildwars2grandmaster.com/strategy-guides/pvp-maps-instructions/

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Rift: PvP and Role Play Sites

This website is devoted to PvP and Realm Versus Realm (RvR) play.
http://www.riftrvr.com/

There are warfront strategy guides, an article about UI and interface settings for PvP, etc.  If you are interested in versus play, you'll want to explore this site.
http://www.riftrvr.com/2011/03/30/ui-and-interface-settings-for-pvp/

Thanks to IGN's Rift Kingdom, I found this site with PvP-specific settings.
http://www.thetelaran.com/2011/03/29/settings-for-a-better-pvp-experience/

If role playing is your thing, you'll want to explore this website which has a database of players, a forum, and online role play (public and private).
http://rift-legends.com/

Here's an article to spark debate on how to structure role play in Rift.
http://forums.riftgame.com/showthread.php?1148-Roleplaying-in-Rift-how-to-make-it-happen

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Cataclysm Launch Strategies

Blacksen has written an article about the strategies he plans to use when Cataclysm launches to level his character.
http://blacksen.com/archives/996

Larisa links to an extensive list of items to pack and expands it with ideas of her own (mages).
http://www.pinkpigtailinn.com/2010/12/preparing-for-cataclysm-nope.html

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BBB's Cooldown Management Strategies

The Big Bear Butt lays out how he manages cooldowns and asks for Comments.
http://thebigbearbutt.com/2010/08/24/managing-cooldowns/

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Playing/Defeating Hunters in PVP

Tips on defeating hunters in PVP, written by a hunter.
http://outdps.com/2010/07/05/how-to-fight-a-hunter-in-pvp/

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Druid PvP Strategy Guide

This site has been recommended to Big Bear Butt as a great resource for druid PvP information.  It looks like is has information about other classes, too, but I don't know how good that is.
http://2v2.com/druid/

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Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Battlegrounds Objectives Maps

Cynwise has created maps that show strategy and objectives, not terrain, to help players understand various Battlegrounds.    The maps are simple but are meant to help players and guilds figure out strategies.  This blog entry has maps for Eye of the Storm, Arathi Basin, Strand of the Ancients, Isle of Conquest, Alterac Valley, Warsong Gulch, and Wintergrasp.
http://cynwise.wordpress.com/2010/06/09/a-different-kind-of-battleground-map/

Great article, Cynwise.  Thanks.

UPDATE:  Cynwise is now selling t-shirts with various maps and tips on them.
http://cynwise.wordpress.com/2010/09/29/cynwises-battlefield-store/

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Lich King 25 Man Strategies

Pwnwear pointed me towards this guide to running the Lich King 25-man from the Non Elitist Raiding Diary.  It is geared toward raid leaders.
http://nonelitistraiding.blogspot.com/2010/04/lich-king-arthas-menethil.html

Pwnwear has his/her own guides to the Lich King 25-man.  This is a supplement to the above article.  It covers the action between the main parts of the fight.
http://pwnwear.com/2010/04/23/lich-king-movement-between-phases/

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Strategize Away (Battlegrounds and Lich King)

This must be Strategy Week in WOW.  Already I've found two good articles on strategies to conquer various parts of the game.

How to Tackle the Third Section of the Lich King Battle (also known as Meat Shield vs. Carpet Bombing).
http://twistedfaith.wordpress.com/2010/04/12/meat-shield-versus-carpet-bombing/

Simple Battlegrounds strategies (listed by Battlefield name):
http://cynwise.wordpress.com/2010/04/11/simple-battleground-strategies/


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Battlegrounds Strategies and Ideas

An explanation of the Arathi Basin Battleground and how to win there.  His strategy also works in other battlegrounds and he explains why.
http://cynwise.wordpress.com/2010/03/22/fight-at-the-flag/

Here is his strategy for Wintergrasp.
http://cynwise.wordpress.com/2009/10/14/how-did-they-win-that-wintergrasp/

Many thanks to Psynister for pointing this out on his blog since this Alliance warlock has great things to say about Battlegrounds.

UPDATE:  I am starting to see more articles about strategies for various aspects of Battlegrounds as the random battleground finder pulls more people in.  The Solo MMO Player says the battleground finder means more unprepared idiots are playing now, particularly on the weekend, so perhaps these articles will help those who are totally clueless.  (Of course it isn't going to help those who are real douchebags when they attempt to play with others.)

First up we have a gnome talking about what is and isn't an objective on Battlegrounds.  This is useful information, especially for those Level 80s who mostly stand around and do nothing.
http://gnomeaggedon.net/2010/04/02/midfield-is-not-an-objective/

Here are some simple strategies from Cynwise for each Battleground, who says that anything too complicated just can't be implemented in the chaos of battle.
http://cynwise.wordpress.com/2010/04/11/simple-battleground-strategies/

OutDPS has communication suggestions to help get the group of strangers that is your side on Battlegrounds moving together.
http://outdps.com/2010/04/23/communication-in-battlegrounds/

Paladin Schmaladin talks about Wintergrasp strategies.
http://ferarro.blogspot.com/2010/09/how-to-be-wintergrasp-weapon.html

I'll add to this as more folks write about Battlegrounds strategies.

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WOW Insider Video Channel (Lich King)

WOW Insider says they plan to do a lot more video guides on their website.  They've started with two videos  that are a Lich King tutorial.
http://www.wow.com/2010/03/19/lich-king-strategy-and-tutorial-video/

They also have a YouTube channel just for their videos.  Here's the link.
http://www.youtube.com/user/WowDotCommunity

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Wintergrasp: Effective Strategy and Tactics

The Solo MMO Player has discovered many players don't have a clue what to do to win Wintergrasp when playing Battlegrounds. First, if you need a basic description of the battle, here's a good summary. Note that it is dated, however.
http://internetgames.about.com/od/worldofwarcraft/a/wintergrasp.htm

Here is what Blizzard says about the PvP aspects of Wintergrasp.
http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/wrath/features/pvp/wintergrasp.xml

WOW Wiki has more detailed information.
http://www.wowwiki.com/Wintergrasp

The Solo MMO Player is willing to help with tactics for attackers who want to win. This is not intended for the rogue who takes a breathing spell along and hides underwater for the entire battle. Below are things to keep in mind when you are on offense, attacking the fortress.

The Solo MMO Player speaks:

To win when attacking in Wintergrasp, you must break into the fortress and tune the orb.

This is a battlefield with many other players and NPCs, which means things are constantly changing. So prioritize your tasks.

First, the casters must take out the guns on the walls while the DPS generators and healers assist or heal the casters. This gives you time to move to the second step--building siege engines. You will need 3-4 siege engines that move in a group toward the castle. Do not spread out!

You will also need to build demolishers and other small craft that surround and protect your siege engines, and you will need melee players on horseback that also defend the siege engine group. The destroyers and horsed riders should move in a wave in front of the siege engines. Move slowly together toward the walls, staying together as much as possible. The demolishers and horseback players will attack the defenders' vehicles as well as defend their own.

Knocking down towers is secondary to your main objective.  It gives you some honor points, and knocking down all the towers shortens the battle duration (although this is difficult since they are scattered all over Wintergrasp), but does not win the battle for the attackers. And winning is what the Solo MMO Player is interested in.  So forget about the towers.

Remember to protect your siege engine production facilities. i.e., the workshops.

There are varied access points to the fortress. Don’t continue to attack the same places over and over. The defenders will soon be sitting there waiting for you. Predictability loses battles.

Players must have plenty of vehicles. Any side that is greatly outnumbered in vehicle count will lose.

If there are 3 minutes to go or less, create smaller vehicles, not siege engines. Siege engines are so slow that they can’t get to the battle in time to be effective at this late date, so take smaller vehicles to the point of attack or serve as a gunner on the current siege engine already in position.

Always be aware of what’s going on in the battle so you can shift roles as needed.

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The Art of Being a Pallywhacker

The Solo MMO Player Speaks

The Solo MMO Player explained to me how to take advantage of bubble spells to kill paladins in PVP or Battlegrounds if you are a caster.  Kite them to get their health down a bit.  When the pally uses a bubble to heal, The Solo MMO Player smiles to himself and immediately stops attacking, re-shields, and restores his own health.

Do NOT beat on the bubble!  Stay out of any other line of fire and move a little closer to the pally so you can watch his bubble.   Now is the time to make any obscene gestures if you are so motivated.  The key is the pally loves it when you beat ineffectively on their bubble shield.  Don't fall into this trap.

Instead, the second the paladin's bubble disappears, the Solo MMO Player hits the pally with his biggest one-shot instant cast.  He resumes his rotation, and puts up any casting counter spells he has to suppress the pally's return fire, and continues to kite.  The pally will be at a 25-30% health loss differential and you will win if you throw the kitchen sink at the pally.  The bubbles have a cooldown period, so take advantage of this to kill the pally before they can re-bubble.  The paladin won't recover from the big one-shot damage you hit them with in the beginning, giving you the win.

The Solo MMO Player was taught this by a pally-killer female priest who could kill retribution paladins quicker than swatting flies.

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Strategies for Icecrown Citadel

Quick tactics for 10 and 25 man normal runs through the Lower Spire in Icecrown Citadel.
http://morrighan13.wordpress.com/2009/12/18/icc-lower-spire-10-and-25-man-normal-crib-sheet/

Balance Druids in Crimson Halls and Lower Spire (Heroics)
http://www.wow.com/2010/09/03/shifting-perspectives-heroic-icc-for-balance-druids-lower-sp/

All of Heroic ICC for the Balance Druid
http://wow.danomatic.com/thedailydruid/2010/09/07/patch-3-3-heroic-icc-strats-for-balance-druids/

http://www.wow.com/2010/09/10/shifting-perspectives-heroic-icc-for-balance-druids-plaguewo/

Feral cats (druids) in ICC
http://jacemora.com/raiding-as-feral/a-short-guide-to-kitty-dps-in-icc-lower-spire/

Warlocks tips for ICC (part one)
http://www.wow.com/2009/12/21/blood-pact-warlock-tips-for-icecrown-citadel-part-1/

Warriors in ICC (part one)
http://www.wow.com/2009/12/18/the-care-and-feeding-of-warriors-warriors-in-icecrown-citadel/

Warriors in ICC (part two)
http://www.wow.com/2010/01/02/the-care-and-feeding-of-warriors-warriors-in-icecrown-citdadel/

Lord Marrowgar (boss battle)
http://www.wow.com/2009/12/18/ready-check-lord-marrowgar/#continued

Lord Marrowgar (for frost mages)
http://spicytunas.com/2009/12/frost-mage-pve-lord-marrowgar/

Gunship Battle (for frost mages)
http://spicytunas.com/2010/02/frost-mage-pve-gunship-battle/

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Arcane Mages in PvP

General PvE and PvP tactics for an arcane mage (undated from the WOW Wiki).
http://www.wowwiki.com/Mage_tactics

Arcane mages in PvP with videos (March 2009).
http://spicytunas.com/2009/03/arcane-mage-pvp-never-give-up/

Arcane mages in PvP (May 2009 and Patch 3.1).
http://www.wow.com/2009/05/02/arcane-brilliance-pvping-as-an-arcane-mage-after-3-1/

Arcane mage spec for Level 80 PvP (dated December 2008).
http://www.mmo-champion.com/class-mage/thoughts-on-arcane-pvp-spec-80/

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The PUG Guide to Vault of Archavon: Emalon

Dreambound has written a guide to running Emalon for pick up groups to use.  He claims this is the hardest instance for PUGs to handle since DPS has to switch targets.  Details  of his strategy here.
http://dreambound-druid.blogspot.com/2009/10/puggers-guide-to-voa25-emalon.html

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Euripedes Does PvP

Euripedes is having some trouble in PvP.  He's looking for a little help for his dual specced holy/raiding retribution paladin, but I think if you play a rogue, he might not want your advice....
http://criticalqq.wordpress.com/2009/10/17/how-i-spent-my-evening/

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Latency Effects (and Strategies to Minimize) UPDATED

The Hunting Lodge's Wertez tries to chart how latency effects hunter shot rotation. Surprise! DPS is effected by lag....
http://www.brigwyn.com/2009/06/24/1261/

UPDATE: Wertez has added a second posting about lag/latency with strategies to minimize any latency you might get in-game with hardware and software and addon tweeks. Note that his tips are for Windows machines mostly.
http://www.brigwyn.com/2009/06/25/where-does-lag-come-from/

UPDATE #2: Wertez demonstrates the use of Traceroute to check your realm latency and to look at latency of various realms if you plan a transfer.
http://www.brigwyn.com/2009/06/28/how-many-hops-does-it-take-to-get-to-the-tootsie-roll-center/

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