The Daily Davis

I really don’t. Perhaps I’m just not as cautious as most. The idea behind RealID is that is a way to communicate with friends across multiple blizzard games, and it requires your e-mail, and displays your real name to them. Much like facebook, it has a friend of friend feature where people on your friend’s list can see your name, but that’s it, and potentially add you. This makes so many people nervous, and I just don’t understand why.

I don’t mind people knowing my real name (David Davis), and my e-mail is not displayed in the friend list at all through WoW.

Can someone who is concerned by this RealID thing tell me what the big panic-point is?

Blizzard recently release some talent previews for some of the classes so far. The classes included Rogues, Druids, Priests, and Shamans. I decided to tinker around with what they have so far, basically modifying my existing builds with some of the new changes. Note that all of these are PVE, as I don’t PVP much.

First up is my combat rogue build. My build was all about getting a lot of energy and combo-points quickly to keep pressure on my target. My talent and glyph choices should correspond with that philosophy. The extra energy from Vigor and Glyph of Vigor just give me a larger pool to pull from.

The only problem I have had with the Combat tree so far is the amount of filler survivability talents I had to use, just to get to the next tier. I was able to knock it down to about 1 point in Steady Recuperation, but if at all possible, on the final builds I’d like something else to place that point into.

My philosophy as I DPS is to put out as much damage as consistently I can, while being a utility player. I made sure that my toolbox was fairly diverse, and put points into improved Kick because I always interrupt enemy casts whenever my Kick is available. As for survivability talents, I don’t hate all of them. For example, I put two points into Endurance because it’s a cooldown I use frequently, and it comes with a stamina bonus. I try to avoid those extra flat armor/health increases because I won’t take nearly as much damage as a DPS.

Overall, I enjoy some of the new changes. Stripping out the old weapon specialization talents absolutely thrilled me. I am definitely pleased I had plenty of points to head into the 3rd tier of Assassination as well. Overall, these are some welcome changes. I think this should make for a nice end-game Raid build. Too bad I don’t raid though.

Now? How about a Shaman? I don’t have an 80 Shaman yet, but that doesn’t mean I can’t mess with a build anyway! I’m thinking my Shaman is going to be a healer, ultimately. So how about I dive into restoration? My shaman experience is limited, so don’t expect a ton of analysis from me. Basically, I really wanted to take advantage of my totems and shields. I feel my build accomplishes this.

So, let’s go for a Bear Druid. I don’t play my druid much, and she’s only in her 20s. But I think I picked up all the important bear talents at least, right?

Lastly there is the priest. I prefer discipline, and was enjoying leveling my priest for a while, prior to discovering the awesomeness of warriors and mages. That being said, I freaking LOVE Power Word: Shield.

I can’t wait for Warrior/Paladin/Hunter/Mage trees, because that’s where I can really talk about these changes. Anyway, feel free tom chime in if you play WoW.

Here are some rather old screenshots of my Paladin. I think I may take more with my other characters as well.

Taken during Lovefest 2010.

I actually have Rhimefang’s claw now, though sometimes I miss the ol’ gnomish saw.

I got so smashed during the lunar festival, this was taken during one of my rare, sober moments in Moonglade.

MOAR COOLDOWNS!!11

I FINALLY GOT MY TUNDRA MAMMOTH.

That very same night, I finally assembled Jeeves for Staedtler. I have no shots of that though.

I love that Mammoth.

Also, here is a random screencap of Blarac’s first steps into the Borean Tundra.

Something that has always confounded me about myself. I am not in any sense religious, at all, and yet, I love Paladins.

It’s a quandary.

As far as it goes in World of Warcraft (the image is of my paladin, Aluia, before the Argent Coliseum was finished), it’s probably a gameplay thing. That being said, I think it goes even deeper then that.

While the paladin is typically associated with the concept of Lawful Good, and championing a deity, I see them as simply the quintessential defender. The paladin has always been, in my interpretation, the first and fiercest in the battle, drawing the fire to defend his or her charge. While many paladin champion a deity, I think that the paladin’s strength is better represented in their convictions. To me, the concept of a paladin is that as long as one has belief in their cause, and seeks to ensure the safety of their charge, they are a paladin in every sense.

This is, of course my own interpretation, and your mileage may vary, but I think I have made a good point.

So, why did I feel like writing about this? Well, based on my concept of a paladin, I came to the realization recently that all of my projects feature a character who I refer to as The Paladin. It seems that in much of my work, The Paladin is often the lead character.

In Cosmic Dash, I would say that Dash, clearly, is the paladin. He is the key character, and takes it upon himself (though it is more often thrust upon him) to defend his charges, his coworkers. Dash’s ideals are very much based on his interpretation of balance, and what is right. Ultimately I hope to explore what those beliefs are. One of Dash’s strengths is his devotion to his friends, and I hope that I communicate that as I continue the comic. As he defends them, constantly, he would have to be particularly devoted to them.

I of course I have other projects and characters who fit this mold, but that is a discussion for another time, when those projects take on a life of their own. That being said, I believe every character in my works has the potential to be a paladin for their perceived good.

Yes, I just implied a paladin could potentially do evil, from someone’s perspective.

I suppose an example is needed. Fortunately for those of us who write such horribly geeky things, Star Wars once again provides the answers we need.

I would like to focus on two characters who I consider paladins. Luke Skywalker, and Darth Vader.

Luke Skywalker, you are probably thinking, makes sense. As a jedi, he has a belief in the force, and maintains his ideals. Naturally, in The Empire Strikes back, he puts his friends before his own safety, heading into an obvious trap to defend them.

The interesting one here, however is Darth Vader, a kind of dark paladin. He definitely has the look, huge, imposing, armored. But what of motivation and defending. For this we have to dip into the prequel trilogy, particularly, Revenge of the Sith.

This, of course, is a subject for another time.