Basics of Grouping

A useful summary of the various ways one can join or set up a group in WOW.
http://www.wow.com/2010/05/13/wow-rookie-grouping-101-thurs/

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

How to Jump-Disengage (Hunters) UPDATED

A video tutorial on how to use jump and Disengage as a hunter to move faster without going backwards.  Many thanks to Warcraft Hunters Union for pointing this out.
http://www.wow.com/2010/05/13/scattered-shot-jump-disengage/

UPDATE:  How to jump off cliffs and survive using Disengage (but only if you are in combat).
http://huntsmanslodge.com/6902/fun-with-disengage.htm

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

How To Get Into the Cataclysm Beta

WOW Head passes along Blizzard's information on how to get yourself in line for the beta.  This isn't a guarantee you'll get in but there are things you need to do to be considered.
http://www.wowhead.com/blog=156161

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

EA Pass: A Bad Idea UPDATED

This isn't a WOW issue but Activision's big rival EA, has come up with a new way to separate gamers from their money and also try to cut down on the sale of used video games.  It's called EA Pass.  In the simplest terms, people who buy a new EA game will get an EA Pass which allows them to enter the multiplayer area of the new game.  If you buy a game used, presumably the EA Pass will have been used and you'll have to buy another for $10 from EA to get into multiplayer.  Mike Schramm explains why this is a bad idea here.  Do you really think enough people who buy used games will pay to play multiplayer to make this pay off for EA?  If it does, it'll spread.  No doubt about that.
http://www.mikeschramm.com/general/why-ea-pass-is-a-bad-idea-20100512

UPDATE:  Alan Wake will have downloadable content available to new game owners who have their 'token card.'  See?  This stuff spreads like a cold among kindergarteners.
http://kotaku.com/5538634/we-get-the-signal-for-alan-wake-in-july

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

Cataclysm Professions Preview

A summary of what Blizzard has released about the professions after Cataclysm hits.
http://www.wow.com/2010/05/12/cataclysm-profession-preview/

Comments on same.
http://graymatterwow.blogspot.com/2010/05/cataclysm-profession-preview.html

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

Strange Game: Leaks and Blizzard UPDATED

Fascinating article about Blizzard and new Cataclysm content leaks from the writer behind the Extreme Anglin' website that covers all things fishing.  This is a Must Read for the thoughtful WOW player.  Following the links to other of Tim's content is quite interesting.
http://timhowgego.com/a-strange-game.html

UPDATE:  MMO Champion has removed all alpha content from their website at Blizzard's request.
http://www.wow.com/2010/05/11/mmo-champion-removes-all-cataclysm-alpha-content-at-blizzards-r/

Comments on the above
http://www.pinkpigtailinn.com/2010/05/someone-just-knocked-on-door.html

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

Pet Builds for Hunters UPDATED

Information about beast mastery PVP pet builds.  This is part two of an article on beast mastery from last December.
http://huntsmanslodge.com/5459/bm-pvp-guide-pets.htm

I also found this website about hunter pet builds in general. It looks a little out of date to me.
http://hunterbuilds.com/petbuilds.html

UPDATE:  But this guide to the best hunter pets for PvP is current as of Patch 3.3.3.
http://huntsmanslodge.com/hunter-pvp-pets

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

Real ID Discussion (Patch 3.3.5) UPDATED WITH SECURITY CONCERNS

The next big patch (3.3.5) will include a new instance (Assault on Ruby Sanctum) and also something called Real ID will appear in Battle.net.  Here's a bit about Real ID, how it is supposed to work and what Mana Obscura thinks about how successful it will be.
http://www.manaobscura.com/?p=651

UPDATE:  WOW Insider writes briefly about how Real ID will work.  The best part of the article are screen shots from the Public Test Realm.
http://www.wow.com/2010/05/13/patch-3-3-5-ptr-battle-net-real-id-system/

UPDATE #2:  Lissanna has some concerns about Read ID and the Friends of Friends feature you might want to read.
http://www.restokin.com/2010/05/getting-personal-or-not/

UPDATE #3:  WOW Insider thinks any security concerns are overblown.  Given that the Solo MMO Player believes that his email address used for logging into the game (which has never been used for anything else so where do all the phishing emails and gold seller spam come from?) has been hacked, they are wrong.
http://www.wow.com/2010/05/28/real-id-security-concerns/

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

Understanding Melee Hit Tables (Theorycrafting)

An explanation of the melee hit table which is simply how WOW calculates just what damage is generated from a blow.
http://www.wow.com/2010/05/10/theorycraft-101-the-melee-hit-table/

I've posted an article about melee hit tables for druids earlier.  You can find it by searching on "melee hit table."

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How to Fool Gearscore

Isn't hard, just takes some gold.
http://highlatencylife.wordpress.com/2010/05/05/fooling-gearscore/

I love the illustration, by the way.

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