Weeks 8 - 14: An update backlog

It's been seven weeks since my last Bucket List update post. Seven. It's a great excuse to abandon the idea entirely but I don't want to stop working on this. So here we go, a massive backlog of updates.
The quick version:

• Morríghan is now 85!
• Shiden is now 77
• Wildlight is now 37
• Nefarna is now 22
• Swiftfeather is now 10
• Sugarstorm is now 10
• Sinuosity is now 10
• Skinning - to 475
• Leatherworking - to 345
• Enchanting - to 289
• Inscription - to 186
• Engineering - to 150

In seven weeks, I've done an abysmally small amount of work towards the List. For the last six of those I've been covering two roles while my employer faffs about and it's sucked all the energy out of me, making me useless once I get home every night. My lovely boyfriend has been really supportive and my cover finally started this week so it can only get better from here.

The biggest relief was hitting 85 on Morríghan, finally! I even ran dungeons with guildies and did enough DPS in frost spec to be a help rather than a hindrance, which was unexpected. Running these confirmed that I am rubbish at melee DPS; I lose sight of my character, muck up which direction to be facing and struggle mentally with not being able to attack until I've run to the next thing. In the long term, I'd like to run enough all-guild dungeons to hit the LFR item level but it's a low priority now. She's 85 with two maxed gathering professions and that's her purpose in the team!

Once that was out the way I moved straight onto Shiden and I am having a blast playing an elemental shaman! It's so much fun and even at 77 has really overshadowed my enjoyment of balance druid DPS. I can't articulate why but it just feels better, more satisfactory. Now is not the time to worry about this though - Mists will change everything up again so I am trying not to feel like I'm betraying Ara by thinking this. I'm hoping to hit 80 this weekend and then build up some rested bonus ready for another Hyjal grind. More Cataclysm zones would have been nice, I'm starting to think.

Wildlight got some levelling love because I wanted to hit 35 in order to train enchanting to the next bracket so that the DMF profession quest wouldn't go to waste! Shadow priesting is good fun but when DoTs are pointless it gets a little samey. Hopefully there'll be more going on at higher levels but ultimately this is the price I pay for wearing full heirlooms and facerolling the content. I've been lucky with enchanting, getting skill points from yellow recipes and making money back on scrolls, so it's not been the worst grind in the world (I'm looking at you, tailoring).

My sniffly warlock only gets levelled when the boy is free because I stupidly agreed that I'd be a levelling buddy for his worgen druid. Foolish. She did hit 22 in the last rush though, and there are 6 other classes to get to 85 before it becomes urgent...and she has a Felsteed. I love Felsteeds!

I've tidied up my low-level alts too, and got them all to level 10 so they could have a talent spec! Swiftfeather is going to level as a Beast Mastery hunter because she's very connected with nature in my mind and it makes sense that she'd choose to work closely with animals she's tamed. Sugarstorm is a delightful gnomish mix of spiky armor and pink pigtails, always accompanied by a little rabbit, so I've gone for Fury just to amuse myself. Sinuosity is an older, jaded night elf who feels at home in the shadows so she's being levelled as Subtlety.

There's still a lot to do, for sure. I want to start updating my progress once a fortnight, so hopefully next time I'll have a shaman at 85 and gearing up!

It's OK To Love Plate Dresses

Some people dislike the idea of plate dresses. That's fine for them, but what about those of us who prefer a dress silhouette for our characters? I won't lie - there aren't a lot of options but I've rounded them up below for your delectation. Also, Warriors and Death Knights rejoice! There is the potential for you to aspire to our elegance and style. I know this is the news you've been waiting for while you clunk around in your plate trousers.

As an aside, this is mostly a paladin issue - we are the only plate-wearing class with some skirted tier sets. I do wonder if this is because we have a healing spec and healing is perceived as 'what girls like to do' but that's rampant speculation and I'm not qualified to figure that one out. Gender, dress and perception is one hell of a minefield, y'know. If one of you is more of the arts-educated, thinking persuasion feel free to ponder on this and let me know!

Immolation Battleplate/Breastplate/Chestguard

The chest piece of the paladin Tier 12 armor. This is the only chest slot model that comes with a skirt attached! Items for each spec are named differently but are completely identical in appearance.

All pieces are from Firelands or other sources of the same item level.

Head: token from Ragnaros / Casque of Flame from Baleroc
Shoulders: token from Majordomo Staghelm / Spaulders of Manifold Eyes from Beth'tilac
Chest: 2200 JPs (SW/Org vendor) / Clutch of the Firemother from Alysrazor
Gloves: 1650 JPs (SW/Org vendor) / drop from Occu'thar, Baradin Hold / Grips of the Raging Giant from Rhyolith / Holy Flame Gauntlets from Blacksmithing 
Belt: Belt of the Seven Seals from Avengers of Hyjal (at Honored)
Feet: Emberforged Elementium Boots from Blacksmithing / Treads of the Penitent Man from Majordomo Staghelm
Legs/Bracers: can't be seen

Tier set is paladin only, off-set pieces could be obtained by any plate-wearing class.

I really love this set and fully plan to drag my guild into Firelands at some point to get me the head and shoulders!

Valorous Aegis Greaves/Legguards/Legplates (paladin only)

The leg piece of the paladin Tier 8 armor. Items for each spec are named differently but are completely identical in appearance.

Head: token from VX-001, Ulduar
Shoulders: token from Thorim, Ulduar
Chest: token from Yogg-Saron, Ulduar
Gloves: token from Freya, Ulduar / drop from Emalon, Vault of Archavon
Legs: token from Hodir, Ulduar / drop from Emalon, Vault of Archavon
Tokens should be taken to plate merchants in Dalaran.

Here are a couple (of many) options for the other slots:
Belt: Blinding Girdle of Truth for 1650 VPs / Girdle of Valorous Deeds from Aeonus, Black Morass
Feet: Silver Sabatons of Fury for 1650 VPs
Bracers: can't be seen

The good news is that you can get the legs from two different places, so if you wanted to build a mogging set around them you don't have to be raiding Ulduar. The older tier sets are a pain to acquire because every slot was token-bought but don't give up! Speak to your friends and guildmates - this tier had some good gear for all classes and more of them might be willing than you think. There are two recolors of this set but they have legs rather than a skirt, which is a shame.

Judgement Legplates (paladin only)

The leg piece of the paladin Tier 2 armor.

Head: drop from Nefarian, Blackwing Lair / drop from Onyxia, Onyxia's Lair (level 80 version)
Shoulders: drop from Chromaggus, Blackwing Lair
Chest: drop from Nefarian, Blackwing Lair
Bracers: drop from Razorgore, Blackwing Lair
Gloves: drop from Flamegor/Ebonroc/Firemaw, Blackwing Lair
Belt: drop from Vaelastrasz, Blackwing Lair
Legs: drop from Ragnaros, Molten Core
Feet: drop from Broodlord Lashlayer, Blackwing Lair

This is one of the most popular paladin sets in the game and is easy to farm nowadays. As well as being very intricate, every piece of armor contributes to the look so you'll need all 8 pieces to nail it.

Cassock of the Loyal (Judgement Recolor, any plate-wearing class)

This is the leg piece of the Judgement Recolor, a dungeon set obtained at level 68-70 in Burning Crusade dungeons.

 

Head: Mask of Penance from Mekgineer Steamrigger, The Steamvault
Shoulders: Justice Bearer's Pauldrons from Omor, heroic Hellfire Ramparts
Chest: Breastplate of Many Graces from Grandmaster Vorpil, Shadow Labyrinth
Bracers: Virtue Bearer's Vambraces from Broggok, heroic Blood Furnace
Gloves: Life Bearer's Gauntlets from Nazan & Vazruden, heroic Hellfire Ramparts
Belt: Girdle of Many Blessings from Rokmar, heroic Slave Pens
Legs: Cassock of the Loyal from Hungarfen, heroic Underbog
Feet: Boots of the Watchful Heart from Captain Skarloc, heroic Escape from Durnholde Keep

A popular recolor of a popular tier set! Easily farmable nowadays. As with the Judgement Armor, you'll need all 8 pieces to complete the look.

Lightsworn Greaves/Legguards/Legplates

The leg piece of the paladin Tier 10 (lower) armor. Items for each spec are named differently but are completely identical in appearance.

Head: 1100 JPs (Dalaran/Argent Tournament vendors)
Shoulders: 695 JPs (Dalaran/Argent Tournament vendors) / Emerald Saint's Spaulders from Cache of the Dreamwalker, ICC
Chest: 1100 JPs (Dalaran/Argent Tournament vendors) / Chestplate of Septic Stitches from Professor Putricide, ICC
Gloves: 695 JPs (Dalaran/Argent Tournament vendors) / Festergut's Gaseous Gloves from Festergut, ICC
Legs: 1100 JPs (Dalaran/Argent Tournament vendors) / Corrupted Silverplate Leggings from Lord Marrowgar, ICC
Waist: Tightening Waistband from Blood Queen Lana'thel, ICC / Surrogate Belt from Halion, Ruby Sanctum
Feet: Ancient Skeletal Boots from Lord Marrowgar, ICC / Foreshadow Steps from Halion, Ruby Sanctum
Bracers: can't be seen

Tier set is paladin only, off-set pieces could be obtained by any plate-wearing class.

I was really excited about being able to pick this set up (head and shoulders included!) for Justice Points. There are loads of belt models that would blend in with this set and any dark boots would look fine.

Acherus Knight's Legplates (Death Knights only)

The leg piece of the Death Knight starter gear.

The full set can only be bought by Death Knights as it's sold by Quartermaster Ozorg in Acherus. It would be easy to change any of the slots to jazz this up a bit - plate with grey colour schemes isn't rare at all.

Well, that's it - all the dress silhouette avenues you could explore. I know that I'll be farming Justice Points for the Lightsworn set and picking up one or both of the Judgement sets. What about you? Are you a fan of plate dresses or do you skip over them in favour of legs (or do you not care in the slightest as long as it looks good)? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Week 1: The Very Light Sabre

Armed with good intentions, unbending resolve and invaluable support from you, my lovely readers, we come to the first Bucket List update. Thank you for all the comments and encouragement you left on the original post!

I'll try to keep these posts short and sweet:

• Sugarstorm the gnome warrior rocked my world and got to level 7
• I levelled inscription from 147 to 171
• My rogue became my new bank alt
• I picked up Arcurion Legguards for my paladin offspec
• Neferne the human warlock became Nefarna the worgen warlock and got to level 9

Oh, Sugarstorm, with your pink pigtails and your Very Light Sabre. You've captured my heart. Who knew that the way to enjoy a warrior alt was to roll a non-serious one?

Doing a little bit of inscription was a nice change of pace - it's been a while since I was working on a profession at that level. Instead of buying the materials on the AH I took my flower-picking death knight to Stranglethorn Vale, which is a great zone for herbs that mill into Golden (common) or Burnt (rarer) Pigments.

I left the warlock race decision to my other half by telling him he had no choice but to roll an alt with me and that it was worgen or dwarf. Turns out he hadn't done the worgen starting zone yet, so worgen it was. I enjoyed it a lot more as a pair than I did running through it solo, perhaps because it alleviated the feeling of being stuck there alone. It was satisfying to see his reactions as things fell apart and were flooded during the earthquakes too!

While I'm here though (because this is my blog and I can grump if I want to), something that still bugs me is the way they designed female worgen bodies. If you ignore the head, hands and feet, it looks like a normal human body to me. Is that really the best Blizzard could come up with? In my opinion it's lazy design. They are capable of better - there's a pair of fingers crossed here that female Pandaren don't end up the same way.