Personal banks act like guild banks across alts…

Q. Would you be willing to make personal bank storage look more like guild storage and available to all characters on a realm?

A. This is something we discuss a lot. It actually helps with keeping mail volume down as well as a player convenience.

OMG, YES PLZ!… err… That would be nice as well. For those of us with a server full of alts (most of which leveled up to their mid-60s or higher just for professions) this would be an awesome change. I’ve got an alchemist, scribe, leatherworker, engineer, and enchanter who are constantly sending mails back and forth. It would be a lot easier to just toss the raw materials in the bank, hop on the alt, get them out of that character’s bank tab and then make whatever it is I wanted to make. No more mail lag or alt hopping to grab the needed items from each and every character. For those of you with personal guild banks already, I’m sure you can see further ways to expand on this.

Increased backpack size…

Q. Any plans to increase the size of the backpack?

A. Yeah, it’s something we discuss a lot. On the other hand, the madness has to end somewhere. I’m not sure I want a 100 slot bag with that much stuff to manage. We’d need to make sure you could easily upgrade the existing backpack; we wouldn’t want anyone to manage to just be without any bags.

I imagine this will be done similar to the riding system or any of the other things that require money and a certain level to obtain. You’d likely have an NPC in each of the major city banks offering the option to upgrade your backpack or offering a quest to do so. This would keep the upgrade process gated and allow for players to only get larger backpacks at points the developers believe players will need them. It’s a sad day when what started out as your ‘big’ backpack is now your ‘I really wish I could replace this’ backpack.

We still have no idea if we’ll see these changes in Cataclysm or even the expansion after it. However, storage is a concern to us pack-rats out there and being able to manage it a little easier is always appreciated.

Coming out of the Twitter developer chat tonight was this question and following answer, given by Ghostcrawler and J. Allen Brack:

Q. With the new skins for druid forms, what is the chance that warlocks might see race/faction specific demon skins or maybe a new one?

A. When you look around, there are a lot of say imp or voidwalkers we could use. It’s something we talk about quite a bit. As for new demons, I hear warlocks are going to be getting some new spells for the next expansion…

I did say at the start that there wasn’t anything outstanding. To be fair this did mean we no longer had to head out and find things to kill for our fragments of soul. Instead we find a load of locks lining up by the practice dummies before and after raids, presumably gathering wooden practice souls.

Well, Ulduar was fun and destruction fairly interesting, the tiered items pretty nice (if a little weird); things were ok and moving along. Then the Argent guys finished their arena and… well, not much changed really. If you weren’t raiding but leveling then you could summon your mounts sooner and just by speaking to the trainer. Also Banish could be removed by yourself or some other warlock with a sense of humor. For those that were raiding, demonology (or more specifically Demonic Pact) was making a name for itself and felguards making a raiding return.

Now we’re seeing Arthas’ homestead invaded and the pull between affliction and destruction hotting-up as they are both up to fighting weight — with demo looking on in amusement throwing spell power to them both. It certainly feels a different world that we woke up in 12 months ago and there sure seem to be less locks kicking about these days (where did all those death knights and paladins come from?).

Looking forward to the next year seems a little odd since there’s high hopes that it will contain the release of Cataclysm – the expansion set to shake up the warlock class as much as Deathwing shakes Azeroth. Certainly I hope for a shard system that feels more like a benefit than a burden. I quite like the sound of the new system as it has been communicated so far, but I do have some reservations that it’s just going to be another set of numbers to watch. This is the burning of a soul — the very essence of a being — to unleash its power for our own aims. It should be something emotive and worthy of the sacrifice made, not a simple resource like a rune or a candle.

Blood Pact is your weekly warlock digest brought to you by Dominic Hobbs. “The avarice never ends! ‘I want golf clubs. I want diamonds. I want a pony so I can ride it twice, get bored and sell it to make glue.’ Look, I don’t wanna make waves, but this whole Christmas season is stupid, stupid, stupid!” ~ The Grinch

Hmmm… a look back at changes for warlocks in 2009. Well there was… no, wait, that was 2008. Well what about… nah, that’s planned for Cataclysm. Wow, this is harder than I thought. Nothing particularly outstanding has happened in the warlock area this year; but so much has happened and, well things have changed. It’s like waking up each morning and something is subtly different. Your blue toothbrush is now red… The sofa is now against this wall, not that one… each change is pretty unremarkable in it’s own right but by the end of the year you are a stuntman living in LA married to a small, blond Portuguese skier who when she’s not training does abstract painting, practices yoga and brews her own beer.

As we surfaced, bleary-eyed into January our memories of sacrificing succubus and SL/SL were fading faster than those of December 31st. Those heady days of power that also led to FotM wannabes flooding our ranks. Skill and complexity had been leaking out of the class for a while and Naxx wasn’t really providing any of us with much of a worthwhile proving ground. Affliction spell rotations were causing carpal-tunnel injuries on those who were determined to take the cold-turkey approach to dropping their addiction to Shadow Bolt spam. Fans of demonology were taking felguards like some sort of methadone for simplistic raiding, meanwhile retaining the use of their fingers.

I mean, I’ve been in some stinky zones before – the Blasted Lands are reminiscent of burning mechano-hog tires, while the Underbog has a fruity bouquet similar to a cantaloupe that’s been opened and left in the sun for a week. But seriously, this place takes the steamed mandu. It’s like…well, you’ve been here, you KNOW what it’s like. Eating becomes a Feat of Strength, my sinuses have built up their own Greymane Wall in a desparate act of self-preservation, and when I get back to the civilized lands the leftover odor pushes socializing with the opposite sex right off the hit table.

So, any advice that doesn’t involve morrowgrain? (I’m allergic to it)

Treadstone
Human Warrior
Arygos

Staghelm responds:

Some of us had to deal with Silithus back when it actually mattered, not when people ran around there collecting glowing sand, and certainly not now, when everyone’s traipsing around up north after some frosty ponce. If you think it smells bad now, you should’ve been there when they murdered your kid in front of you. Oh wait! That was me.

Anyway. Best way to handle the smell of butt and bug is to take a handkerchief, tie it around your nose and mouth, and get the hell out of Silithus. What are you even doing there? Are you as dumb as most of my subjects? I thought humans were supposed to have some skill in diplomacy. Use it and mediate a discussion between your brain and your mouth when the Flight Master asks you where you want to go and say “Anywhere but Elune-damned Silithus.”

Your lack of charisma is certainly your downfall in the Kaldorei Elections, voters complain of your disinterest in their careers and your elitist attitude. I believe I have a solution for you. It is well known that you are a very powerful (if not the most powerful) balance druid.

-Krixooks Longberry

Staghelm responds:

Moonkin form? Are you serious?

Look, I think Elune rules as much as the next night elf, but let’s be real here. Elune has sent at least two types of creatures to “help” night elves. Let’s examine them.

The first: worgen. Yeah, those were a great idea, Elune. Hulking wolfmen with 150% runspeed modifiers who can spread their curse by biting things and who don’t respond well to authority. Wonderful. Thanks for that. We’ll send a gift basket.

The second: moonkin. Fat owlbears with rudimentary jewelry. I’m not saying that they don’t help us at all, but — wait, yes I am, they don’t help us at all. Do we have any moonkin anywhere that are even friendly? The ones on Azuremyst just yell at people and get sick. The ones in Feralas just get mad all the time. Strictly speaking, I’m not even sure I’ve ever seen any using balance magic, so why would I want to turn into one?

I’m sure there are other ways to curry favor with fickle voters than turning into a bird that looks and acts like a character from a Faulkner novel.

Dear Staghelm,

I have heard rumours of Darkspear Trolls and Worgen practicing druidic magic.

Sincerely, Harruki, Tauren Druid

Staghelm responds:

Hahaha, oh man. Is this — is this a joke? Yes, I’m sure that those rumors are true. Those overgrown jungle imps with penchants for absorbing animal god mojo are just gonna start turning into … ani … oh, hell. This actually sounds plausible. I bet it’s those weird dancing ones that hang around outside Moonglade, too. I knew I should’ve sent some adventurers out there to handle it. And by handle I mean literally murder them with weapons.

At least I can rest easy knowing that there’s no way that a bunch of humans that routinely shapeshift could learn how to turn … into … ah, dammit.

The druid pool’s gonna need a lot of bleach.

Dear Archdruid,

Clearly the Alliance has much more faith in you than in Tyrande. When Horde raids enter Darnassus I frequently see any Alliance in town scamper to protect the Temple of the Moon, but they must know that you are capable of fending for yourself. Do you ever take the chance to rub in your obvious superiority and greater respect to her?

-Lierni

Staghelm responds:

I’ve gotta commend any gormless Horde sadsack that manages to get past Darkshore, but it’s pretty obvious who they’re afraid of. They know that Tyrande is tarted-up cat lady in mooncloth robes and I’m an intimidating buck of an elf with the very powers of nature at my command. And you’re right — the fact that my people don’t rush to defend me is an obvious indicator that they’re aware of my incredible prowess.

So, yes, of course, I let her know that she’s an idiot every time she respawns. What I don’t understand is why she carries one-fifth of a bear around with her. For some reason the Horde just love that stuff.

Your August Viridiance:

I’m currently operating in Silithus, helping to keep the Qiraji from emerging once more onto the surface of Azeroth. Your experience in the area far exceeds my own, so I was hoping for the answer to a practical question I have: how do I deal with the smell?

WoW.com’s prestige in the community has afforded us the opportunity to speak to major Azerothian leadership figures on any subject, and we’re letting you, the reader, Ask A Faction Leader!

We recently spoke to Nexus-Prince Haramad, leader of the ethereal Consortium, and he shed light on several key issues, including goblin rearrangement, investment opportunities, bad business practices, proprietary bandage technology, and static cling. In this installment of Ask a Faction Leader, we’ll be sitting with Archdruid Fandral Staghelm of the Cenarion Circle.

Our first reader question:

Dear Fandral Staghelm,

Over the years, I have many times assisted your morrowgrain research. I have found many weird plants in my quest for that elusive herb. I have been awarded many (useless but, I am sure, heartfelt) scrolls and pieces of food by your research team. My question is: Where is all this effort ending up? What end does all this morrowgrain research lead to?

Sincerely,
Bowjób-Lightbringer EU

Staghelm responds:

Look, pal, when I send you on an errand, you say “how high.” You don’t ask “what exactly do you need all of this eldritch herb for.” I need it, you need to get it for me. You know the saying? Yours is not to question why, etc?

Oh, wonderful. See her, over there? My handler is signaling me. I guess that means “answer the poorly-named hunter’s (yes, I know you’re a hunter) question, you magnificent king among kaldorei.” I guess it’s just as well, I got a dozen emails about what I was doing with morrowgrain.

Fine. The big reveal. What am I doing with morrowgrain?

Nah, I’m just playin’, I’ll never tell. Go get me some more. There’s a pair of cloth bracers with agility and spirit on them waiting for you when you get back.

Dear Archdruid,

Blue posters in the official forums have started leaving comments about the earthquakes happening in-game, which as we reported the other day, appear to be linked to in-game mobs that are potentially ushering in the beginning of the Cataclysm world event.

The comments are somewhat cryptic, but that is par for the course with Blizzard. They like to tease — to hold the carrot in front of you and make you run for it. But the evidence we presented Monday was pretty solid, and it’s gained even more traction in the community and around the net; so this is an interesting follow up to it all.

The comments thus far after the break.
Wryxian says in response to “Did Any of you saw that? There was a shake in Dalaran…. Is this the beginning of the Cata Pre event?…Or was it just me?”:

It was just you. Seriously, earthquakes leading up to some kind of cataclysm? I lol’d.

The Kirin Tor want to ensure that even though their city is no longer actually in the ground anymore, it still receives the same treatment as the rest of Azeroth… or something.
We try not to read into blue comments too much, since reading in-between the lines can be a crap shoot sometimes. But in this case we think it’s notable enough, especially with the absence of Blizzard outright denying any linkage, that it’s worth bringing to everyone’s attention. Read into it what you will, but we think the meaning of Wryxian’s comments are quite clear: there is some linkage between the earthquakes and “some kind of cataclysm.”