My level 5 doesn't have to worry about riding training now

Darkmoon Faire was financially awesome for my Dalaran hunter that I am slow-leveling. One thing I've already learned from this process is that things actually look different when I'm not trying to move-through as quickly as possible. There's probably a life lesson in there for me too.

I have also found that playing this way is much like breaking a habit. For example, Noblegarden has begun. In the past I have all but ignored these seasonal world events so I am anxious to devote some time finding out what fun there is to be had - but my habitual thinking is saying "not enough time - only level 5 - need to get to ten so you can..." So I have to stop each time the tape recorder in my head plays this message and say "No, I don't need to get to any level - the more I do at this level the better.

What I've done so far

• I did the first few levels of quests around Anvillmar until sent to Ironforge. That's where I...
• Jumped on the Deeprun Tram and headed for the Darmoon Fair entrance where I...
• Bought a fishing pole, fishing training, and leveled fishing to 75.
• Made a few trips back and forth to Stormwind to auction the goodies from the crates.
• I killed a few wolves for Stringy Wolf Meat 
• Bought a couple Netherweave Bags.

At this point I have 563 gold from all the fishing of crates. That is such a brilliant thing for Blizzard to have put in the game. Its not something one is going to be able to make massive gold-per-hour but its enough to make the difference between broke and enough to afford riding training or a primo upgrade with a little bit of effort.

My tips for Darkmoon fishing

Stay on the move but not too much. You don't want to impatient run past a spawn of crates that just popped. I was on foot plodding along and saw countless riders zoom by, up and down the beach a few times and then they were gone. This was while I did my routine of casting my line in open water a time or two, moving 40 yards or so in one direction, always checking for pops. I started to wonder if the spawns were set up such that some number of casts in open water had to occur before things were reset, but I doubt that's the case. (This is how superstitions develop.) But I acted like it were the case and did pretty well.

563 gold, two Netherweave bags, and I have picked one herb or mined one rock.

I'm off for some Easter... err, uh... Noblegarden fun. Cya next time.

Slow Play leveling has begun

Last month I announced my plans to start a character that I would go out of my way to level slowly. Ok, maybe not go out of my way, but I am taking steps and applying a few rules that'll ensure I take the time to smell the roses.

Today I found the random character sequence generator, generated 3 characters, logged into WoW and found the first U.S. server that isn't PvP that follows the string alphabetically. I ended up on Dalaran.

I chose a Hunter. Why? Basically I just love leveling Hunters. Dwarf was my racial choice as sort of a hat tip to Jim Younkin of Power Word Gold - I believe his main is a Dwarf Hunter as well. In the little bit I've played Alliance characters its also the race I've had the least exposure to.

Another cool thing is that when WoW was launched part of that trailer video featured a Dwarf Hunter. Anyone remember that? That basically sold me on WoW.

I have digressed.

Anyway, Glenliv lives. He's level 1 and has a lot of exploring to do.

One of my goals is to learn something new about the game every time I play this guy. I'll try to do something I've never done before. For example, as soon as I logged in with the new character I went inside and "talked" to all the citizens wondering around. The talk of the town is that Troggs are on the attack and everyone is still shook up from the recent earthquake.

Yeah yeah, I was vaguely aware that story lines would center around the Cataclysm. But I honestly don't think I've ever, in the years of playing this game, ever went around talking to NPC's just to see what they had to say.

I took a little time to soak up some of the artwork that went into this zone. I walked around and examined things.

Not being in a hurry feels good. So does enjoying what's been created for me in this game.