Solo Queue - A World of Warcraft Podcast

Episode 14 – Losing the War Within My Schedule

Show Notes 

Welcome to Episode 14!

Getting the episode started, an apology for how I got it started, and can I mention my busy schedule any more times?  Hold my Thunder 45…

September News – Where better to do the news than at Brewfest! 15:13

1. RWF is over. Nuf said.

And the Weekly Delves Event is coming Oct. 1 to Oct. 8

1. Preview of patch 11.0.5 - general

• Drakthyr getting more classes

https://www.wowhead.com/guide/world-events/20th-anniversary-event

• New World Bosses

1. Warband Map to Everywhere All At Once toy

My Impressions of TWW – 36:18

My thoughts on XP, leveling, the quality of the storylines, getting the pacing of leveling right (if possible), the music (stunning as always), zone design, why my druid is walking, riding ground mounts, and not shapeshifting, and what is the name of dynamic flying this month?

The Rookery as a Follower Dungeon – 1:10:35

Smoothly integrated in the flow of the campaign – can we do that with all of them?

Couple of Quality of Life Improvements 1:16:45

The small things do add to immersion.

Raid of the Month:  Crucible of Storms (BfA) – 1:22:56

Hunting for some 5 year old traces of Xal’Atath that I missed in current raid content – will it pay off?

Opinion on the Trading Post – 1:34:20

Adding my small opinion onto the bonfire that is Trading Post feedback – mine is not filled with anger, I promise.

Outro – 1:45:01

• Thanks to Blizzard and OGRE for audio, my lovely wife, and you for listening.

“I will see you out there."

Episode 13 - Early or Not, Here it Comes

The War Within launches

Full episode notes to come after I get a little sleep and get bored during a meeting at work.

Dave

Episode 12 - You Still Want to Start WoW NoW? Part 2

Show Notes

Opening Bit

• Official Apology letter from Solo Queue HQ for the delay of Part 2

A Few More Words on the WoW Map

• The whole screen map, zooming in and out

A Few More Words on Gear and Gear Upgrades

• Gear is the heart of WoW, but it can be very confusing

Modification and Customization Inside the Game

• Settings, suggestions

• Use mouse for movement – 2 buttons and steer

• WoW edit mode

The Many Ways to Play WoW

• Getting to current content, important or not?

• Grouping

• I am not the expert

• Types of mounts including utility mounts

• Loremaster path

Where to get help?

• YouTube videos

• Lore: Platinum WoW for quick lore; Nobbel87 for in-depth lore

Outro

Thanks to Blizzard and OGRE for audio, my lovely wife, and you for listening.

If you want to support the show, SoloQueueWoW at Patreon.com

Thank you to current supporting patrons, Andrew, Righteous Bandy, and ThatSkyGuy! 

Subscribe to the podcast at your podcast feed of choice, Apple, Spotify, and all the rest. 

You can contact me at soloqueuewow at gmail.com, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.

Good luck diving into TWW launch this week or next.

“I'll see you out there."

Episode 11 – Up All Night

Show Notes 

Welcome to Episode 11! – 3:25 (10:00 pm)

The goal of this episode was to throw age to the wind and unwisely pull an all-nighter enjoying the final days of Dragonflight and recording an episode.  The segments of the show are broken up by hours in the all-nighter!  Stick around to find out how it goes. 

July News – 7:43 (11:00 pm)

1. Midsummer Fire Festival – I did lots of levelling and proved that the new bad luck protection system works perfectly fine by getting the Fire Festival Drake armor on my very first attempt. Sorry Jason from the Starting Zone.  Thanks Blizz, but remember me again at Brewfest.

1. First, the pre-patch event for 11.0 is called the Radiant Echoes and it DOES NOT LAUNCH on Tuesday.

1. All DF raids and world bosses become awakened

End of Dragonflight – 31:32 (12:00 am)

1. End of expac checklist. What’s yours?  Mine is being pieced together as we chat

TWW Topics – 52:40 (1:00 am)

Really just a rant about Pathfinder and support for “Steady Flying”

Delve Testing and Preview 1:01:54 (2:00 am)

1. Playing beta characters is tough

Hearing voices and then a Remix update – 1:12:01 (3:00 am)

Wait, did we make it? 

Man, it felt good to buy out the mount vendor!  Also, I didn’t mind running groups in MoP Remix because there is literally no interactions with others and no challenge to the content, virtually at any level.

Raid of the Month:  Mogu-Shan Vaults – 1:22:12 (4:00 am)

The primary drop is the Astral Cloud Serpent mount, one of my faves and a previous target of mine.  Lorewalker Cho and some slow to come to life bosses make this a slow farm, but the mount is great if you didn’t get it in MoP Remix.  And in Remix, there is an amazing golden version called the Astral Emperor’s Serpent.  Go get it!

Final thoughts on Dragon Flight and the direction of WoW – 1:34:10 (5:00 am – close to dawn of a different day)

DF saved WoW as Blizzard pulled itself out of a terrible place; Blizzcon 2023 ended my debate over whether to continue with the game and it resurrected Solo Queue because of the three pillars:  Delves, Warbands, and Follower Dungeons.

Dragon Flight brought the story of WoW back to Azeroth and the familiar after the Shadowlands.

Follower Dungeons might be one of the few features launched in WoW to have no real negative reaction, benefits for solo players, and even benefits for group players.

Extend that Follower Dungeon tech to a Raid setting.

Coming solo features remind me of Mage Tower in Legion, my single proudest moment (beating the Feral Druid challenge).  

Idea of adding a small level of challenge to old dungeon/raid farming, but not before Follower Raids!

Lastly, Warbands, the big change that arrives with pre-patch.  Denathar of Azeroth United said this is the shift from a game that recognizes what the character accomplishes to a game that recognizes what the player accomplishes.  61 characters will be in my Warband soon, all sharing their loot.

DF brought WoW back and the future looks great!

Outro – 1:48:20 (Sunrise!)

• Thanks to Blizzard and OGRE for audio, my lovely wife, and you for listening.

“I will see you out there."

Episode 10 – How Do You Solo Interview with Gin!

Show Notes 

Welcome to Episode 10! – 3:25

Introducing…Gin! – 4:37

1. Finding WoW

Outro

• Thanks to Blizzard and OGRE for audio, my lovely wife, and you for listening.

“We will see you out there."

See you real soon for Episode 11, the July monthly episode!

Episode 9 – First Raid Clear of…Dazar'alor?

Show Notes 

Welcome to Episode 9! – 3:27

• Sound issues lately - I think I have them resolved.

News – 8:37

1. TWW launches Aug. 26 - I was only one day off!  Early access on Aug. 22, Season 1 activities on Sept. 1. 

1. You can travel from zone to zone, city to city, and lighting your factions’ bonfires and extinguishing those of the rival faction.  Do this to collect Burning Blossoms, the currency for the Fire Festival.  There are buffs you can get and vendors to spend your blossoms on.  In addition, there are festival related quests and achievements to check out.

1. Dranei HA

Popping in to a tavern or inn for a local drink – 40:01

Pandaren Plum Wine at The Lazy Turnip.  We are drinking the local this month.

Question of the month – 40:56

After giving the news and drama of Remix, have I been paying too much attention to headlines and nerf news and not enough time just playing and enjoying?  What is your opinion on MoP Remix?  Do you like this different style of content in this period leading up to a new expansion?   

Introducing the Raid of the Month! – 42:55

One big part of many solo players game is waiting literal years for Blizzard to open up old end-game content to solo players.  With the news that BfA raids are now soloable, I chose Battle of Dazaralor for my first Raid of the Month on my Night Elf Feral Druid main, ilvl 484, 499 weapon.

Dazaralor is a 12-boss raid and was the second raid of BFA.  It launched in January of 2019, so I waited five and a half years to be able to solo it.  That is too long.  I chose it because it has two rare mounts that can drop on Mythic, both are pretty cool.  The GMOD is a massive robot mech suit mount, the Goblin Machine of Death.  It can drop in Normal, Heroic, or Mythic difficult.  The Glacial Tidestorm, a very cool elemental off Jaina, only drops on Mythic.

First 9 bosses gave little trouble.  A 3% wipe after 5 minutes on Mekkatorque, but second time was fine.  No GMOD.  Stormwall Blockade was very difficult and took some research and four deaths.  Jaina was easier, but no Glacial Tidestorm.

Final tally

11 new appearances, no mounts, bunch of five-year-old achievements, 2,471 in gold, minus 250 in repair costs.  Profit of 2,221 gold for roughly an hour of time, maybe less.  I did eat dinner in the middle.  Difficulty was a satisfying level, but I want this in less than five year.  #FollowerRaidsWoW

Outro

Thanks to Blizzard and OGRE for audio, my lovely wife, and you for listening.

If you want to support the show, SoloQueueWoW at Patreon.com

Thank you to current patrons, Andrew, Righteous Bandy, and ThatSkyGuy! 

Subscribe to the podcast at your podcast feed of choice, Apple, Spotify, and all the rest. 

You can contact me at soloqueuewow at gmail.com, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.

Good luck with your own old raid farming!

“I'll see you out there."

Episode 8 – So You Want to Start WoW NoW?

Show Notes

The Basics of WoW

• What is an MMORPG (and why is this a solo podcast?)

• Scene - Azeroth, Draenor, Argus and other planets in the universe

• Retail since 2004, expansions 2 years or so; next in late summer, trilogy, so great time to begin!

• Classic

Into Azeroth for the First Time

• Server types and populations and choosing

• Character creation screen

• Chromie time after first character. Will be leveling right now through BfA for first time.  Can also start in WoW Remix MoP.

End of Part I of Starting WoW NoW - but more to come!

Outro

Thanks to Blizzard and OGRE for audio, my lovely wife, and you for listening.

If you want to support the show, SoloQueueWoW at Patreon.com

Thank you to current patrons, Andrew, Righteous Bandy, and ThatSkyGuy! 

Subscribe to the podcast at your podcast feed of choice, Apple, Spotify, and all the rest. 

You can contact me at soloqueuewow at gmail.com, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.

Good luck choosing which version of WoW to immerse yourself in.

“I'll see you out there."

Episode 7 - The Just Barely Not April April Episode (Oops I…)

Welcome to episode 7:

I started with good intentions of hitting the main topic of how to start playing WoW in 2024.

Well, news swallowed up most of our time, so that topic is coming to a special episode soon!

The all-new “I Was Wrong” segment

A healthy mea culpa for various incorrections in previous months

Location:

Stormwind, the human capital and heart of the Alliance

Popping in to a tavern or inn for a local drink:

Pig & Whistle in Stormwind

First the tavern, then the podcast – check it out!

Bourbon.  In-game and out.

News updates

• 2024 Roadmap update.

Main topic:  Will arrive in Episode 8, pinky swear

Outro

Thanks to Blizzard and OGRE for audio, my lovely wife, and you for listening.

If you want to support the show, SoloQueueWoW at Patreon.com

Thank you to current patrons, Andrew, Righteous Bandy, and ThatSkyGuy! 

Sorry to bump your main topic, SkyGuy.

Subscribe to the podcast at your podcast feed of choice, Apple, Spotify, and all the rest. 

You can contact me at soloqueuewow at gmail.com, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.

Good luck choosing which version of WoW to immerse yourself in.

“I'll see you out there."

Episode 6 - The Just Barely Not March March Episode

Welcome to episode:

Odd time in WoW for me, vacation, time away, busy, end of expansion

Back to some basics.  We are in one of my favorite Horde starting zones, Mulgore

What did I accomplish in WoW last month?

• Vacation stuff

News updates

• 2.6 – let’s talk about the Plunderverse

Special Location with description:

You must do the Ahab Wheathoof quest in Bloodhoof Village once in your life to honor a young WoW player who was taken too early by cancer.

https://wowpedia.fandom.com/wiki/Ezra_Chatterton 

Popping in to a tavern or inn for a local drink:

Not any alcohol, but there is cheese!

Location #2:  Thunder Bluff tavern music rest of way out

• Walking around Thunder Bluff - unique capital city

Main topic:  Back to what to do during WoW slowdowns

• Take a vacation, literally take time away from the game

Outro:

Thanks to Blizzard and OGRE for audio, my lovely wife, and you for listening.

If you want to support the show, SoloQueueWoW at Patreon.com

Thank you to current patrons, Andrew, Righteous Bandy, and ThatSkyGuy! 

Subscribe to the podcast at your podcast feed of choice, Apple, Spotify, and all the rest. 

You can contact me at soloqueuewow at gmail.com, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.

"Good luck with getting to Renown 40 on the Plunderbus.

I'll see you out there."

Episode 5 - What to Expect When You're Expecting (a WoW expansion)

Show Notes

Welcome back for episode 5 of Solo Queue and welcome to you if this is your first time listening.

1. Opening thoughts

Coming to you from the westernmost island of Pandaria, in the Townlong Steppes and looking for any sign of a land mass that could host The War Within.

I am predicting a TWW launch of Tuesday, August 27, 2024.  I dare you to disagree.

Absolutely enjoyed my conversation with longtime WoW player and podcaster Gershom in the first interview episode a few weeks ago.  Freeform conversation was a fun change of pace!  Thanks Gershom!  @huntergershom on the Twitter.

1. News and updates

• Hearthstone's 10th anniversary, yet another exhibit in a growing mountain of evidence that I am getting old.

1. 2024 Roadmap Update

• 2.6 is still a mystery, but it is coming soon

1. Main Topic - What is there to do in retail WoW with TWW still many months out?  Some suggestions from me.

• Leveling alts - Go and enjoy leveling. Don't treat it as a chore.  Lots of story to find, memories to chase, and each toon is another in your stable of alts!

• BfA Warfronts

Again, mog and mounts on offer with all three.  Sure they each had their issues, but you are a big, tough level 70 champion now.  What are you afraid of?

• Dip your top into mog and mount farming, and what better way to start than here in Pandaria with the four main World Bosses: Galleon, Nalak, Ondasta, and the Sha of Anger?  Each drops a mount, most of them highly sought after.  Here is my tip: get toons on a low-population RP server, and it is rare to ever see anyone else farming them.  Why is that good?  No waiting around for the 15-20 minute spawn timer.  With rare visits, the bosses are often just up twiddling their thumbs.  My further advice:  camp a few toons at Isle of Thunder to farm Nalak.  Camp a few toons on the big part Pandaria, hitting Galleon, Sha, and Ondasta, then hearthing back to the start.  By the time you do that loop and log into the next character, your first boss is nearly or possibly up again.  Rinse, repeat, ride the mount that drops.  And, special bonus in the show notes, a macro that will let you see your attempts on these four.  Sadly, it is only on that character, so get your calculator out!

1. Outro

A tired throat and the need to pack for a trip to France has me wrapping up.

Thanks to all of you supporting, including the Solo Crew patrons Andrew, Righteous Bandy, and our newest patron ThatSkyGuy who arrived by donating a Solo Queue logo!  See it on the Twitter account header.

Thanks all sound, music, and voice peoples at Blizzard.

Thanks to the guys in OGRE for their killer music!

@soloqueuewow on all the socials, Gmail, and at Patreon.com.

Typing this from Logan Airport about to head to Paris!  Can't wait for the adventure.  I will tell you all about it in March!

I'll see you out there!