3 Ways Garrisons Could Have Been Better

When Warlords of Draenor was first announced, the garrisons were one of the big things people were excited about. But in the end they ended up being what destroyed Warlords and caused the subscription rate to drop drastically. In concept, the idea is perfect. A homing system is what a lot of players want in an MMO. In practice, it wasn't so much what people wanted. These are some ways that I think would have made it better in practice.

1. Custom Decorating

When housing was announced, I was one of the people that had hoped that you would be able to customize it a little bit more. Getting to put the buildings where you want is great, but I think they could have done a little better. I don't think they needed to go full Final Fantasy and have furniture and color wheels, but I do think they could have made it a little better. 

If they had put sets---like a night elf set, a tauren set--locked behind achievements and quests, I think it would have been a lot better. Change all the buildings at once and it wouldn't be all that different from how some people have the trading post and others don't. Or when people change the guards. It would have let it be a little more personal and still wouldn't have completely broken the amount of space needed.

2. Leveling Professions

The buildings were a great idea. But I don't think you should have been able to level 1 - max in your garrison. I think the fact that you didn't have to leave your garrison to level your professions hit the game hard. If they had left the lower level professions to their specific expansions---still had to go through all of the usual leveling, I think it would have been better. The buildings were great for buying recipes and getting the items but being able to level completely there took away from the game. 

3. No Mine. No Herb Garden

The mine and the herb garden took away from part of the game. There was no reason to leave your garrison to do professions. Like above, it made it so you stayed in one place. Professions have been part of the game since they were incorporated. The mine and the garden crashed not only that part of the game, but also the auction house. If they had kept those out--I think the expansion would have been a lot better. Many of the buildings and things were great---but I feel like professions just screwed themselves inside the garrisons. 

Garrisons in concept were amazing. But they needed to work them out a little better. Maybe they needed a little more time on the drawing board. If you have any ideas of what could have made them better, let me know! 

O.S

9 Mounts You May Have Forgotten

1, The Ravenlord Mount

Warlords of Draenor have made the raven mounts popular with the addition of a handful of new ones and the backstory of the Arakkoa. But one must never forget the original raven mount -- Anzu. This blue bird was once a status symbol to show how many times you had run the Burning Crusade Heroic: Sethekk Halls from Anzu himself! As the mount only drops on Heroic it can only be done once per day---but since mounts are now account wide, you can farm it as many times as you have toons that can clear it! 

2. Swift Zulian Panther

Once upon a time, the Zulian instances were raids and a handful of players remember a time where you needed a full group to clear them and they dropped the fabled tiger and bear mounts. But sadly this is no more. Many people are not aware, however, that the tiger has been replaced with a panther! This mount drops from High Priestess Kilnara in Zul' Gurub and is a steal at max level! If you can tolerate running the instance until it drops! Along with being an addition to the mount count, it is a saber Horde can use! That's right Horde! If you are jealous of the Alliances' cat mounts---you can have one of your own for the low cost of farming a Heroic!

3. Armored Razzashi Raptor

Everyone loves raptors! They are one of the many benefits of rolling Horde. But if you are one of the many that have chosen to side with the Alliance, lucky for you Blizzard has implemented a few raptors that you can use as well. Among them is this fine feathered friend. The raptor drops from Bloodlord Mandokir in Zul'Gurub; and while at one point the mechanics could make a person pull their hair out--at max level the farm is quite easy and you'll be kicking yourself for not doing this farm sooner!

4. The Winterspring Frostsaber/ Venomhide Ravasaur

Sadly, the factions cannot get both of these mounts. The saber is Alliance only and the raptor is Horde only. If you faction transfer, the mount will change with you. But either way, they are good looking mounts that come at the cost of a quest chain! Both mounts come from a quest called "They Grow Up So Fast." The Alliance one located in Winterspring and the Horde located in Un'Goro Crater. Each quest involves gathering 20 a specific item, runecloth, rugged leather and 80 gold-- none of which are a challenge these days. The only catch is -- the quest has to be done for 20 days as each iteration only drops one of the item. For a mount, that is not so bad, especially considering you will get gold for doing the daily and it adds to the daily count! It's a triple threat! 

5. The Blue Proto-Drake

Proto-Drakes are a strong case of: you either love them or you hate them. Many people prefer the sleek look of regular drakes, while others like the more rugged look. Either way--they add to the mount drop and this beauty is just another Heroic farm! A drop from Skadi the Ruthless in Utgarde Pinnacle on Heroic, he is an easy farm that can be done once a day per character. Unless, of course, it is the Lich King Time-Walking! That's right, Utgarde Pinnacle is one of the instances you can get while queuing for Time Walking randoms and the mount still drops! 

6. The Sea Turtle

Stop everything you are doing and look at this little guy. He can be yours for the low cost of fishing in Northrend. That's right--the Sea Turtle comes from nothing but fishing. Now, the drop chance is low--but it is definitely worth the time. Though it does not increase your speed on land, it does increase your swim speed. Remember Vashj'ir? He works there are well until you get the sea horse! To make the whole thing better---his jump animation is him hiding in his shell. Why are you still here? Go start fishing!

7. The Green Proto - Drake

Wrath mount farmers can tell you stories of this mount. While it adds to the mount count, this is one of the more frustrating mounts to farm for.  The mount is a chance drop from an egg that you  can buy from the Oracles AFTER you have hit revered. The egg costs 3 gold and takes 3 days to hatch. The mount is one of several things that can come from the egg --- including a handful of companion pets -- and has the lowest drop rate of all of them. You will jump for joy the day you see it come out of the egg.

8. The Polar Bear

Of the handful of bear mounts in the game, the polar bear is the most tedious to get. But, it is highly worth the work. The polar bear is a personal favorite of my mount collection. The mount is a chance drop from Hyldnir Spoils which is an item earned through a handful of dailies given to you in Brunnhildar Village  in Storm Peaks. The drop chance is low and you may end up doing the dailies for a better part of a month, but once you get it, I promise you will add it to your favorites on the random button.

9. The Fiery Warhorse

This mount has been lost to the passing of time. A relic from the raid Karazan, this mount is a rare drop from the first boss : Attumen the Huntsman. An extremely low drop, it is an easy task to farm--simply run it and kill the boss and then leave, or finish the raid if you would like. The horse has a similar model to The Headless Horseman mount but it does not have the ability to fly. The red details and vampire like fangs add to the swag points that the Horseman's mount simply does not have. It's one hell of a mount to ride into PvP on, that's for sure!

Tell me some of your favorite mounts in the comments! Blogs will be posted a couple times a week, keep tuning back in to see what we are talking about next! 

SO

10 Hunter Pets That Outclass Spirit Beasts

If you're a hunter than you know all about the trials of finding that perfect pet--the one that goes with your transmog and matches your personality. Most people, when looking for the coolest pet--think of spirit beasts. Well, you poor soul, I am here to tell you -- hearth out of that zone you have been sitting in for days on end! Sit back and relax my hunter friend! Because I am about to show you 10 awesome pets in World of Warcraft that are not spirit beasts.

1. Pitch

Pitch is a level 76 mob located in Sholazar Basin and is probably one of the easier black lions to acquire. He is a mob that you are required to kill for the quest "Part Time Hunter". And is always on sight unless the quest is in process, even then he respawns rather quickly. The sleek look of the black lion goes great with any dark hunter transmog and adds a sense of mystery to the hunter. And think of all the names you can come up with based around the dark color. Personally, I am partial to Obsidian or Shadow, but that might just be me.

2. The Emerald Skytalon

Now this beautiful bird greatly resembles the green owl spirit beast that you can tame at higher levels---however, it is much easier to get. This mob is a level 74 and located in Dragonblight. It is the target of the quest "Cycle of Life". While there is only one spirit beast with this look, you can find these birds flying all over the Emerald Dragonshrine. There is also a named version of the bird that is slightly larger named Alystros the Verdant Keeper that is the target of another quest in the same area. Whether you name it after the mob in the area or use inspiration from the dragons around you, anyone can admit this bird would look pretty stylish next to a hunter looking to rock the green look.

3. Torgos

Torgos is a level 65 elite located in Terrokar Forest. Unlike the others that are always available to tame, this one is a little trickier. Torgos can only be tamed while doing the quest "Torgos!" If you are not partial to the blue, another mob that is part of the same quest chain named Trachela is also available. The mob is a beautiful white instead of the striking blue and is a regular 65 mob. Both models are beautiful two headed carrion birds that are guaranteed to make any other player stop and stare at your pet as they try to figure out if they are seeing double! Pair him up with a blue transmog or a skeleton based set and I promise you, you will have everyone making sure they run back to their corpses quickly or taking that rez sickness!

4. The Kurken

The Kurken is a level 12 mob located on Azuremyst Isle. Sadly, since he is a corehound, he can only be tamed by Beast Master spec Hunter. Even with that drawback, you can admit he has a sense of style about him. The Kurkin is the target of the quest "The Kurkin is Lurkin" which is given to low level Draenei. Unfortunately, you have to wait until you are a high enough level to tame the corehound and then return to the cave he sits in. It is a bit of a bummer considering he is right in front of you during the quest. But for the style points, I would say the return trip is worth it. The mob is available to Horde hunters as well, they just have to make the dangerous journey to the Draenei starting zone and hope they do not draw the attention of guards. Personally, if I was Horde--it would be a badge of my epic bravery walking along side me.     

                                                          

5. The Blue Runed Demon Dog 

Now, if you are going for a more frightening look--I have just the pet for you. This hound model can be found in the Nexus. A place that, at one time, made us all beat our heads on our desks as we ran it through it at level. Now, it is an easy one shot clear. And during that clear, you can find this pretty cool little dude. A level 66 elite mob, you are guaranteed to find him roaming around one of the halls. Just think how this angry little guy would look with some of the Wrath of the Lich King transmog gear out there. If you want to look like a hunter straight out of the cold norther tundra, this is the hound you want at your side,

  6. Gib the Banana- Horder     

Gib is a level 52 rare spawn in the Swamp of Sorrows. Yes, it seems those swamps still have some magic for us, and it comes in the form of a monkey with a fez. Gib is the only tamable monkey with a fez in the game currently and if you want him, you better have a lot of bananas. He is located at the far Western end of the zone and spawns every 3-5 hours. If you are lucky, you are the only one that knows about him! Shh, I won't tell if you won't. The spawn time is not terrible and you can probably find him in a day if you want him bad enough. That fez makes him look pretty worth the wait. What do you think? I think I might name mine Doctor. Too bad he doesn't have a little blue box and a bow tie, then he would be perfect.

7. Felbound Wolf

Everyone is always raging about the few wolf spirit beasts out there, but I don't think these guys get enough credit. Coated in the eerie green glow of the Fel, these hounds will add a spark to any hunter look. Located in Tanaan, they have a little bite to back up their bark, but they are relatively easy to find. Bonus: Unlike the spirit beasts, these guys are everywhere. Go in and pick one out! It's like going to the pet store and picking out a puppy. And evil, green, Fel puppy. This comparison is falling apart. If you name him Fluffy, I expect a screen shot.

8. The Demonfanged Crawler

Whether you love PvP or are just one of the few that find spiders kind of interesting, anyone can admit the demonfanged crawler is a stylish spider. Much like it's friends on the Molten Front, this spider stands out among the rest. The best part? It's everywhere in Tanaan Jungle. The downside? It's in Tanaan Jungle. These spiders can pack quite the punch while trying to tame them if you don't have the gear for it. But every hunter out there knows, a little damage is worth it in the long run. Just make sure your party members don't have a rolled up newspaper with them!

 9. Slateshell Ancient

This turtle is a way to make a statement. Not only is it a dragon turtle, but its lightning charged body gives it the appearance of glowing. Everyone loves a pet that glows. Located on the Isle of Thunder--these level 90 turtles are everywhere! And at the current max level, easy to tame. You have to be kicking yourself for not knowing about these beauties before! Set up an Ulduar or Thunder King transmog and you will be making everyone in your raid group jealous!

10. Shadowhorn Stag

The time is upon us my friends! It is official, we can tame stags! And with that, we can tame this bad ass over here. Located in Ashenvale, this level 22 mob is a steal! His glowing green eyes add to the sense of dread that any hunter wants when entering a dungeon--and that rack, tells you he's seen some stuff man. He has definitely lived longer than Bambi's mom and has some stories for you! Give him a change and he will be sure to share! Just don't stand behind him!

I hope you enjoyed this post and it gave you some ideas for those hunters we all know you have on your character list! If you like this post, leave us some feedback! I would love to see your favorite hunter pets in the comments and anything else you would like to see on this blog. New posts every week!

O.S