Ding, 80

11:30am Sunday, finally hit my goal for the weekend.  I wasn't the first of anything on my server to get there, but at least it's done!  The Gorilladin performed admirably in his duties all the way from 70 to 80, allowing me to solo almost every elite quest (Krueg being the exception I can think of off-hand right now).  Unfortunately Loque'nahak is already scarce ; ;  Well, I'm off to get some sleep so I can operate normally this week!

Just a short post

Just a short update, I got back from my real world distractions to find that Turalyon has a 300 person queue... no idea what's up with that, haven't had a queue on this server, like, ever!

Well, my levelling spec/plan is working out great, I was the highest level on our server until I had to leave for classes today.  Don't have anything going on the rest of this weekend, so hopefully I'll be able to get back up to the cutting edge of levelling.  Gorilladin is doing an admirable job, as I haven't died yet (unfortunately he has bit it a few times, likely avoidable had I had 2pc T5).

What are you reading this for?  Go play Wrath, it's amazing!

Leveling plan

Well, the plan was to go into WotLK with a full 25 quests ready to turn in at midnight tonight, however Blizzard may be conspiring against me.  As you all know, the servers were down practically all day yesterday, and then when I log on this morning to try and do what I can before RL intervenes the servers happen to be down for the exact amount of time until I have to leave my computer!

So I thought I'd share with you what my plans are for levelling in this brand new world of ice and undead that Blizzard is giving us!

Beast Mastery is most definitely the route I'm taking (pets ARE the main reason to be a hunter and not a rogue, after all)  however it's going to be slightly different from the raiding spec I've been using since 3.0 hit.  If you don't feel like reading my wall o' text for everything,  this is the spec I'm going with for myself, and this for Gorilladin.

Here come the wall o' text:

5/5 Endurance Training: This gives us a little bit more leeway for error with our pet, and increases the healing we both will receive from Spirit Bond.  I'm going to be running around with Aspect of the Beast on most of the time anyway, so IAotH wouldn't help me anyway.

3/3 Thick Hide: Reducing the amount of damage Gorilladin(Thanks BRK) is one of our primary goals with this spec, so we'll be taking everything we can to achieve that goal.

2/2 Focused Fire: A straight up damage increase, and while Improved Revive Pet might be useful, I'm not planning to instance very much on the way up. i.e. if Gorilladin dies, there's a problem.

5/5 Unleashed Fury: This talent is amazing, what else can I say?  I'm completely skipping over Aspect Mastery with this build since it runs with Aspect of the Beast on almost all the time.

5/5 Ferocity: 10% crit for our pet, again an awesome talent.

1/2 Improved Mend Pet: The main reason for putting a point into this is to add the debuff removal.  I'm not overly concerned at this point about debuffs being peeled off asap, but I also don't want to be stuck with every disease under the sun on my pet.

2/2 Bestial Discipline: In my opinion this talent is really a must have for almost any BM hunter spec.  Your pets natural focus regen just isn't enough to get the job done, and even if you have GftT it can be a little spiky at times.

1/1 Intimidation: We have to pick this up in order to get to Bestial Wrath, but it's not a bad ability either.  If you really need to unload on a target the threat bonus is nice, or you can interrupt some nasty spells.

2/2 Spirit Bond: This gives us a nice constant flow of health, which should be plenty for both myself and Gorilladin to recover from killing single mobs, and the 10% increased healing is pretty nice for taking on groups or elites.  If only I had the 2pc T5 bonus...

4/5 Frenzy: You only really need 4 points in this talent to get it's full effects, and we definitely want it's full effects.

2/2 Animal Handler: Expertise is absolutely amazing when you're in front of a mob, and Gorilladin is going to be in front of a LOT of mobs.

1/1 Bestial Wrath: Do you really have to ask?

3/3 Catlike Reflexes: I've opted to go with 9% dodge on my pet rather than the 3% damage increase.  In a raid or group of course the 3% damage increase is pretty much required, but with Gorilladin tanking I want him as beefy as possible.

5/5 Serpent's Swiftness: Again, do you really have to ask?  20% damage increase for both me and my pet.... Seems good.

1/1 The Beast Within: Oddly enough I'm not overly excited by this talent.  Don't get me wrong, it's good, but it just doesn't feel as amazing as BW.  It does feel wrong not to put the point here though.

3/3 Longevity: For levelling even if this only affected my pet's specials I would pick it up.  The cooldown reductions on Intimidation and Bestial Wrath are *amazing* bonuses(and the main reasons for taking this talent in groups/raiding).

5/5 Kindred Spirits: Yet another % damage multiplier for our pet, and it gives us a movement speed buff on top of that.  Thank you blizzard for taking away these buffs swapping depending on range from your pet.

1/1 Beast Mastery: Yes, I'm taking this talent.  Yes, you read correctly above that I'm using a Gorilla to level with.  So why am I taking this talent you ask?  The answer is that the 4 extra pet skill points are pretty hot right now.  I'm using them to give Gorilladin 20% more armor and 2% more dodge, so pretend this talent says that instead (but more on Gorilladin later.)

Now we switch over to the Marksmanship tree, where things are pretty simple:

5/5 Lethal Shots: 5% crit is good!  If my hit weren't capped right now I'd take some points in focused aim instead, but I'll pick that up later when I need to.

3/3 Careful Aim: Even without any buffs this is like a 200AP or more increase, which also transfers down to my pet.  I'm actually really surprised by how good this talent is.

2/5 Mortal Shots: I'm not thrilled about this talent since it doesn't apply to auto shots, but again my hit is already capped for right now, and Improved Hunter's Mark is pretty lackluster as well, but we have to put a few extra points in this tree so we can pick up GftT next level.

Now for Gorilladin:

1/2 Cobra Reflexes: This ability is a DPS increase, and I would take 2 points in it if there were room to, however there's not.

1/1 Charge: The faster Gorilladin gets to our targets, the faster we can kill them.

3/3 Great Stamina: This increases the amount of healing Gorilladin gets from Spirit Bond, and helps us get to Blood of the Rhino, which is amazing

2/2 Natural Armor: Straight up survivability increase.  I love things that are simple.

3/3 Spiked Collar: Did I mention things that are simple?  Yeah, like 9% more damage.

1/1 Boar's Speed: See: Charge

2/2 Blood of the Rhino: More healing on Gorilladin means killing bigger stuff.  If I had 2pc T5 I *might* be able to get away with not taking this, however I'd probably still take it even then.

2/2 Pet Barding: It's like Natural Armor, only even better!

2/2 Guard Dog: Who named this talent?  Why not just call it Guardian?  Why do you have to insult my pets, Blizzard?  (No offense to anyone who uses a wolf...)  In any case, with this running it's unlikely that Gorilladin is going to lose aggro during the short lifespan of our targets, and it means I don't have to feed him either!