About Me & this Space

My shaman, Elepheagle, main character since the Burning Crusade.

Hello there. My name is Ross.

As you've gathered, World of Warcraft is one of my hobbies.

So is writing. Granted, it has paid for a couple of meals over the years---literally, just a couple---but I will continue to do it for enjoyment. As long as my mind remains healthy, I'll write. The same goes for music. As long as my hands and fingers allow me to play, I will be a musician, pay or no pay. Even if the servers go dark, I'll always be a Blizzard fan.

My journey into WoW was strange. I'd never played an MMO, opting instead for console games. While I was in college I'd often drop by my cousins' place to visit, get high and play music. They were really into Everquest at the time. Without fail, one of them would be online whenever I'd come over. I didn't understand the allure at the time. Sitting on the couch stoned for an hour, playing Super-Bust-a-Move 2 on the PS2 was good enough for me (any pothead who's played knows exactly what I'm talking about).

Shortly after the release of Vanilla WoW, a band mate of mine picked up a copy and invited me over to check it out. After forty-five minutes with a stout, grey-bearded dwarf, I found myself with a level 5 hunter and a thirst for more. Fast forward one year and I'm in a game store with my brother. In one hand he holds a copy of Guild Wars; in the other, World of Warcraft. He asks what I think and I say, "definitely WoW." He notes the subscription fee and I say, "Trust me." I had no idea what I was talking about, though I haven't left WoW to see if I made the right choice.

That was quite a few years ago. While I do play other games on occasion, this is the one I enjoy the most, and where I devote most of my gaming time.

I figure now is as good a time as ever to blend some of my hobbies.

What you'll find here

"A World of Warcraft blog that can't make up its mind." 

While my musings here tend to cover a broad base of subjects, there are couple of regular topics I try to post on regularly. A little bit about those, in case you're drawn to a particular topic:

WoW Weekly: Self-absorbed looks into what I've been enjoying lately in-game. Often has to do with mount collecting or achievement hunting.

Chasing the Gold Cap: This was a bi-weekly feature I began in December/January in response to a community blogging exercise. The early CtGC posts chronicle my attempt and subsequent failure to hit the gold cap by the end of April 2013. I'm still making gold---albeit casually---and share observations from time to time. 

Spending the Gold Cap: A semi-regular feature that chronicles the spending of the money I earned in Chasing the Gold Cap, mainly on Unclaimed Black Market Auction Containers.

Bashes with Wolves: This is where I write about enhancement shamanism. I wouldn't go so far to say that I'm an expert enhancement shaman. But I am an experienced one.

Guides: Occasionally I'll put together a guide on how to do something in-game. Please check them out in in the right-hand column.

Completionist Leanings: I like collecting and finishing all the things! And I know I'm not the only one. This topic focuses on tips and tricks to get things done.

The Feckless Leader Story: This "story" is in draft form right now, and am not sure when it will see light. Essentially it's the story of my experience joining a raiding guild in the midst of WotLK, eventually taking the helm of the raid and the guild, and having things fall apart in the midst of MoP and the result of it.  

Join me on Twitter! 

Occasionally, I contribute to the technology blog Tech Void. MyMorningCigarette is where I've archived much of my creative non-fiction and poetry (non-wow-related), and is infrequently updated.