Acolyte 1.5 is not without faults, as it feels like half of the video has ads for websites. However, what we are finally presented with is an engaging storyline full of action and excitement. Don't miss the voice acting by Clint Hackleman, Drewbie, and Olibith, as well as the musical composition by Nathan Allen Pinard!
Hey, it's Banshih of <Paradigm> on Steamwheedle Cartel again! Not satisfied with robbing banks in our Grand Theft Azeroth competition, she's upped the ante with a more daring heist -- the heart of Hakkar the Soulflayer himself. Sure, Hakkar isn't exactly in his prime anymore, but he always appreciates having visitors talk to him, kill all his friends and rip out his internal organs. It's lonely in the jungle these days, with those damn kids and their Zul'Aman and their ... jukebox music ....
Do you have any unusual World of Warcraft images that are just collecting dust in your screenshots folder? We'd love to see it on Around Azeroth! Sharing your screenshot is as simple as e-mailing aroundazeroth@wowinsider.com with a copy of your shot and a brief explanation of the scene. You could be featured here next!
Remember to include your player name, server and/or guild if you want it mentioned. We prefer full screen shots without the UI showing. And please, no more sunsets, and don't shoot anyone in the city of Durham today.
Every week, Arcane Brilliance works its way into your spell-rotation, right between Fireball two and Fireball three. It has a zero second cast time, doesn't trigger the global cooldown, costs no mana, does ridiculous amounts of damage, creates no threat, and is entirely unresistable. Yes, I'm aware that's not a word. Yes, I understand that "irresistible" is the grammatically correct alternative. Yes, I like to make up words. Also, apparently Arcane Brilliance is the greatest spell ever, and should probably make up your entire spell rotation, and not just a part of it. The good news? I just saved you space on your action bars.
If forced, at gunpoint, to identify the most daunting aspect of the World of Warcraft experience, I know exactly what I'd say. It wouldn't be starting the game, as Blizzard has done a wonderful job of making entry into the game itself incredibly user-friendly. It wouldn't be beginning to raid, as hopefully when you go into your first raid, your guild will be fully aware that it is your first raid and won't expect too much of you, so you can participate without pressure.
No, I'd have to say the single most daunting part of the game happens at a very specific point, and that point is the moment you ding level 70.
Perhaps you don't realize it at that exact instant. For most, the moment of realization comes later. Perhaps it happens when you hop into your first Arena match and die two-and-a-half seconds later. Perhaps it happens when you get thrown into a Karazhan pick-up-group and notice half of your spells are being resisted by Attumen the Huntsman. Perhaps it happens while walking around Shattrath, and you notice a GnomeMage, ostensibly at the same level as you, wandering around in full tier 6 gear, sporting a mana pool twice as large as yours and around a kajillion spell damage. Perhaps it happens when your guild leader tells you no, you can't come help on Gruul, because you have no spell hit rating, and you don't even know what that means.
So what are you to do? How do you turn your mismatched greens and quest-reward blues into gear that will get you a raid spot? Read on after the jump, and find out how to start down the road to becoming epic.
Baron Soosdon has been threatening to make a plotline machinima for quite some time, so it's good to see that he followed through with it! Kake Buk Island: Episode 1 - "You Damn Beach" is about an orc, Thok, that wakes up on a strange island. While exploring the island, he befriends two girls, Noki and Jiki, that need his help rescuing their pig from the sinister gnome, Sergei Gnum. All is not as it seems on Kake Buk Island, but I guess we'll have to wait for Episode 2 to find out!
KBI: YDB has an incredible line-up of special guests, including Drewbie, Olibith, and Baron himself, but I'm not sure what was up with some of the dialogue. Nevertheless, the cross-blend of World of Warcraft and Unreal Tournament 2004 made for a surreal set for Baron to weave his magic. As always, if you enjoyed the machinima, download the high quality version!
If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.
When you've lost your Parachute Cloak, you can get kind of desperate. Actually, this situation isn't nearly as dire as it appears; tankadin Atharey of Black Dragonflight was merely having a ball on the trampoline used for the "Bring Me The Egg" quest in Nagrand. Since she was already flying through the air, she figured Avenging Wrath would add a nice touch. Plus, is a paladin ever really in danger? That bubble is pretty much impenetrable, even when it comes to landing on rocks/trees/angry devilsaurs.
Do you have any unusual World of Warcraft images that are just collecting dust in your screenshots folder? We'd love to see it on Around Azeroth! Sharing your screenshot is as simple as e-mailing aroundazeroth@wowinsider.com with a copy of your shot and a brief explanation of the scene. You could be featured here next!
Remember to include your player name, server and/or guild if you want it mentioned. We prefer full screen shots without the UI showing. And please, no more sunsets, because the night time is the right time to be with the one you love.
(This video contain some language, so view with caution.)
TotalBiscuit, of WoW Radio, is probably the most notorious commenter in the WoW Moviewatch section, so we asked him to recommend something that he actually liked. He offered up Zalgradis Paladin PvP 3. While I absolutely hated it, he had some interesting things to say about it.
Before 1.9, Zalgradis was able to do incredible things that not many were able to do as a Paladin at that time. In the film, he combined a(horrible) metal soundtrack with action bits, while other sections had scripted comedy. Thank you, TB, for reminding me why I never feature PvP!
If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com. Previously on Moviewatch ...
First of all, I'd like to thank you all for your submissions to Grand Theft Azeroth. There were a lot of wonderful pictures, and I had trouble choosing the top five to put up for a vote here. We extended the contest a day because ... well, because I forgot what day the contest was supposed to end. Nevertheless, voting will take place Fri-Sun and a winner will be announced Monday. Now let's get to the five nominees, each with their own special category:
Our good friends at Joystiq are passing out the cigars today -- the newest site in the Joystiq network (which WoW Insider is a part of, within Weblogs, Inc., which is a division of AOL) is called Big Download, is in beta, and is open right now for your browsing and file grabbing pleasure. We'll direct you to the most important part of the site, the World of Warcraft page, where you can grab Blizzard's latest patch and trailer at your convenience (in case you haven't gotten them yet), but the site's got lots of other good stuff, too, including that sweet looking Mirror's Edge gameplay video everyone's going gaga over, and even full MMO clients like Dream of Mirror Online and EVE Online.
The site's got a decidedly PC bent, which we're big fans of, obviously, and there's a news page which will cover PC and game file news from 1 to 100% downloaded. And with a feature called "My Tracker," you can sign in and every time there's a new file for a game you want (say, a certain 10 million player fantasy MMO that you just can't get enough of), they'll tell you right away.
Looks cool to us. The site is still in beta, as we said, so stay tuned for more updates and features all the time. And what's that you say? You want a place where you can get up-to-date, virus-free WoW addons, a place that never goes down and charges no fees and requires no registration to download from? Patience, my friends. In time, good things will come.
Over the next couple of days, we're going to dig deep into the archives of WoW machinima, thanks to our dear readers. I never thought I'd end up featuring anything with Kelly Clarkson music in the background, but this movie is in the same vein as Here Without You. Those that were around for that tearjerker may not be as impressed with Because of You, but it's still powerful nonetheless.
Where the former involved a man taking revenge for his woman, the latter has it the opposite way. Dating back to October 2006, this little story is about a lady that will go to the depths of hell to avenge her fallen man. This seems to be a popular format for machinima, as it's been repeated in almost every serious plotline movie out there in the last few years. However, if you're a big sap and enjoyed the movie like I did, check out the higher quality version.
[Thanks, Kerry!]
If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.
Supremus has acquired a new target! Unlike our last victim of the Black Temple, Spellweave, of Kul Tiras-EU, is not standing around waiting to get smushed. But how fast can those little gnome legs take her from that giant abyssal? Especially wearing a pink tabard? That clashes ridiculously with the headpiece and shoulders? The effect is that of a stick of cotton candy dipped in rat skulls.
You have only two hours left to participate in AA's latest user submission challenge: Grand Theft Azeroth! Send us pics of you (or your friends, we're not picky) committing your most nefarious deeds in the style of the GTA series. Mount-jackings, thefts, murders, muggings, cruelty to animals and critters, picking up blood elf ladies of the night, punting gnomes -- let your wicked side out. Send your screenshots to aroundazeroth@wowinsider.com by noon EST on TODAY, Thursday, May 8, and please use the phrase "GTA" somewhere in your e-mail title.
Do you have any unusual World of Warcraft images that are just collecting dust in your screenshots folder? We'd love to see it on Around Azeroth! Sharing your screenshot is as simple as e-mailing aroundazeroth@wowinsider.com with a copy of your shot and a brief explanation of the scene. You could be featured here next!
Remember to include your player name, server and/or guild if you want it mentioned. We prefer full screen shots without the UI showing. And please, no more sunsets or gnomes in pink pigtails.
TotalBiscuit felt that yesterday's Moviewatch, Standing in the Way of Control, was "pretentious, all style no substance, and ugly as sin." However, I think he has Gnomechewer all wrong. This machinimator is clearly an experimenter of different ways to create his art. Call me biased, but I simply can't hate on someone that has a WoW character named "Coreyhaim", and did a spoof of a scene from Teen Witch.
Super Duper Ultimate Edition Extreme is just another example of his experimental style. He wanted to add a bunch of cool scenes together to form a mishmash of awesome. Set to a soundtrack by Notorious B.I.G., he has the Horde invading Westfall, dwarven pilots, rallying troops, and the Alliance singing songs of inspiration. With a portfolio as versatile as Gnomechewer's, I can't wait to see what he comes up with next!
If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.
From a distance there is harmony, and it echoes through the land. It's the voice of hope, it's the voice of peace, it's the voice of every man. From a distance we all have enough and no one is in need, and there are no guns, no bombs, no rifles, no arrows, no poisoned daggers, no giant demonic pets with swords, no fire nova totems that act suspiciously like IEDs, no dudes with bubbles in purple armor, and no blood elf hunter meleeing warriors and yelling "I AM THE GREETEST." This shot of a peaceful Halaa is brought to you by Sara, of unknown character and server.
You have only one day left to participate in AA's latest user submission challenge: Grand Theft Azeroth! Send us pics of you (or your friends, we're not picky) committing your most nefarious deeds in the style of the GTA series. Mount-jackings, thefts, murders, muggings, cruelty to animals and critters, picking up blood elf ladies of the night, punting gnomes -- let your wicked side out. Send your screenshots to aroundazeroth@wowinsider.com by noon EST on TOMORROW, Thursday, May 8, and please use the phrase "GTA" somewhere in your e-mail title.
Do you have any unusual World of Warcraft images that are just collecting dust in your screenshots folder? We'd love to see it on Around Azeroth! Sharing your screenshot is as simple as e-mailing aroundazeroth@wowinsider.com with a copy of your shot and a brief explanation of the scene. You could be featured here next!
Remember to include your player name, server and/or guild if you want it mentioned. We prefer full screen shots without the UI showing. And please, no more sunsets or Bette Midler songs.
Miguel and Baron Soosdon have showed us the error of our ways. We somehow completely missed this amazing up-and-comer, Gnomechewer. He has a variety of movies in his arsenal, yet has very little recognition on Warcraftmovies. We think we'll be seeing more of him in the future, though.
Gnomechewer's latest film, Standing in the Way of Control, was named after a song by The Gossip, although the mix he used is actually a mashup with Elastica's Connection. The machinima is about an Orc rogue that goes back in time to ensure that Thrall is still warchief in the present. To get his story across, he blends art and model-viewed characters together to create a surreal effect!
[Thanks, Miguel!]
If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.
When Gaelan said he wanted to be decked out in purples, this was not exactly what he had in mind. Yes, it's the Embrace of the Fang set, beloved by (attractive female) twinks everywhere. Ignoring the requests of his guildmates to put on a tabard for God's sake, Gaelan instead chose to put on his boogie shoes inside a tauren tent. He was promptly drop-kicked off of Thunder Bluff by Cairne himself. Cairne usually reserves that move for the Alliance, but this was an extra-special case.
If you missed it the other day, Around Azeroth is running another user submission challenge: Grand Theft Azeroth! Send us pics of you (or your friends, we're not picky) committing your most nefarious deeds in the style of the GTA series. Mount-jackings, thefts, murders, muggings, cruelty to animals and critters, picking up blood elf ladies of the night, punting gnomes -- let your wicked side out. Send your screenshots to aroundazeroth@wowinsider.com by noon EST on Thursday, May 8, and please use the phrase "GTA" somewhere in your e-mail title.
Do you have any unusual World of Warcraft images that are just collecting dust in your screenshots folder? We'd love to see it on Around Azeroth! Sharing your screenshot is as simple as e-mailing aroundazeroth@wowinsider.com with a copy of your shot and a brief explanation of the scene. You could be featured here next!
Remember to include your player name, server and/or guild if you want it mentioned. We prefer full screen shots without the UI showing. And please, DANCE! There's nothing else for me to do but DANCE! All these bad times I'm going through, just DANCE! There's canned heat in my heels tonight, baby.
Last October, Machinima.com announced a Beowulf machinima contest where contestants could win free WoW for a year! InsomniAddict Productions came in second place, and did a pretty good job of recreating the official trailer for the movie. He recently released a comparison of the two next to each other and they are strikingly similar.
We're not quite sure how Halowulf won, as it barely resembles the trailer. There also appears to be interlacing on the screen! Either way, second place for a first effort isn't a bad way to start!
Our good friends at Joystiq are passing out the cigars today -- the newest site in the Joystiq network (which WoW Insider is a part of, within Weblogs, Inc., which is a division of AOL) is called Big Download, is in beta, and is open right now for your browsing and file grabbing pleasure. We'll direct you to the most important part of the site, the World of Warcraft page, where you can grab Blizzard's latest patch and trailer at your convenience (in case you haven't gotten them yet), but the site's got lots of other good stuff, too, including that sweet looking Mirror's Edge gameplay video everyone's going gaga over, and even full MMO clients like Dream of Mirror Online and EVE Online.
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