Fan sites:

World of Warcraft Nederland has been really busy this week! They have introduced a very new and highly awesome Achievement system, providing achievements and their solutions in Dutch! Alongside the launch of the new Achievement system is their Grunty contest where you can be the lucky winner of a Grunty the Murloc Marine pet by contributing to the new Achievement system! Also this week they have reviewed the new improved quest interface that is due to launch with patch 3.3. Lastly they have just begun a new Lion Points 'season', running until the end of December, and the contributor with the most Lion Points by then will win a game-card! It's all good this week!

WorldOfWar.net has an awesome video featuring Jace Hall literally storming the Blizzard offices and having some tongue-in-cheek talks with our very own Tom Chilton, J. Allen Brack and more! Well worth checking out, and incredibly funny.

World of ComicCraft:

Only together can we defeat the legion.

I see people in the Town Hall!

REAARGHH!! – Hold still, please.

Wait here, I'll take a look.

Hardly a hospitable place, if I may say so...

Other Stuff:

Small reminder, a Battle.net account is now required for forum and game login!

WorldOfRaids.com interviews Greg 'Ghostcrawler' Street and Cory Stockton this week to celebrate the 5 years of WoW, and they talk about the game and how its development has progressed throughout the years.

We have another interview! This time MMOZine speaks exclusively with Greg Street to find out more about the final major content patch of the Wrath of the Lich King expansion. Don't miss out!

The voice that gives us all goosebumps - Cranius - returns with a new music video, named 'The Story.' Awesome as always, Cranius.

So Halloween has been and gone, but did you catch this interactive video posted to youtube? Titled the 'Ravenholdt Labyrinth' – it must have taken hours! Very amazing production value, and not for the weak hearted!

Also, to continue what seems to be a trend in machinima creations recently, another interactive video in which viewers (that's you guys!) must help Quigley with his quest and unravel the 19 letter code!

Have a groovy weekend, everyone!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Grellin stood at the Dalaran fountain, watching the eager fisherman cast their lines. He was never much of a fisherman. The fear of getting a big catch and being dragged into the water frightened the little gnome greatly as swimming was certainly not his forte. As he watched, he realised that time was passing much slower than usual. Previous weeks had been filled with some amazing events that he had attended. Some were crazy events, like naked gnomish races (now that certainly was his forte) and all other manner of festivals and markets. Grellin wondered if anything was coming up that he would be interested in attending this week!

He began to make his way to the events board. Weaving his way through the hustle and bustle of the Dalaran streets, Grellin he took his diary from a pocket in his robes, and flicked to the calendar. Pencilled in already were a couple of noteworthy events he would certainly be attending, and he looked forward to adding more to his schedule.

The gnome approached the billboard. It looked different to usual... more barren than before. He saw some old fliers posted, and then glanced at his diary. In disappointment, he realised he already had them on his 'to do' list, and whilst the events were greatly anticipated, he couldn't help but think to himself...

'I wish there were more...'

If you have do have any in-game events you'd like to bring to the Community's attention, please be sure post up the details of the event the Community News & Events forum.

StarCraft
The World Cyber Games 2009 are over and we have seen some impressive games. In the end South Korea dominated the tournament and took home all three medals. Gold went to Zerg player Jaedong; Silver to Protoss player Stork; and finally Bronze for Protoss player Bisu. Congratulations to them all! More information has been released about the upcoming Team Liquid StarLeague. Check out the shoutcasters, maps and tournament format and read the pre-ladder interviews.

Warcraft III
In a nail-biting final, Chinese Human player Xuwen "InFi" Wang won the gold medal at the World Cyber Games 2009 by defeating the Chinese Orc player Weilang "Fly100%" Lu two games to one. The bronze medal went to June "Lyn" Park, the South Korean Orc player. Meanwhile the Spanish Undead player Juan "VortiX" Morea Duran won the 112th edition of the weekly ZOTAC-Cup. The runner-up was the South Korean player Sung Sik "ReminD" Kim playing Night Elf.

World of Warcraft
The qualifying phase of the Intel Extreme Masters Season IV in Europe and North America has just finished. Now it's time for the American Championship Finals which will take place on December 11th to 13th in Edmonton, Canada. In other news, SK-Gaming's editor Michael "Zechs" Redford shares his thoughts on the MLG Anaheim tournament's outcome and why style and skill triumphed.

This week on the WoW Europe Community forums:

So you're new to the game and might be looking for some help. You need look no further, as this thread can provide you with some helpful pointers!

Fish. Some people love them, some people don't. In this case, however, the question is more about fish loot. So then, what is your take? Fish Oil or Shiny Fish Scales.

Ganking is something we've all heard of. Some people love it, some people don't. Some people even pick their class in an attempt to avoid it. What is your take, what is the best anti-ganking class?

One afternoon you wake up after a nice long sleep and realize you are in fact now your WoW character. What is the first thing you would do be?

Guides, guides and guides!

Dastardly deeds – the guide for roleplaying an evil character. Something the RP part of you might like?

So you're a druid and you have chosen a different path than the ferals and restos. You also happen to like PvP, but might be wondering what to do. This thread right here might just help you out a little!

If you like raiding as a dps player, and happen to play an elemental shaman, this thread could provide you with some pointers for maximising your DPS!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Being a hero of Azeroth brings with it the desire to stand out and heroes seek ways of proving themselves in the world in order to do just that. Being the 'Bread Winner' is a start, and 'Working Day and Night' helps along the way to success and fame. One key note is to 'Know Thy Enemy', a most importantly 'To Honor One's Elders', for they have laid down the path to success over the years. With some hard work and dedication it is possible to achieve anything! We want to know what achievements you enjoy the most and you can do just that by voting in this week's poll!

Fan sites:

WorldofWar.net has posted an article about Jace Hall storming the WotLK office and an article about Electric Playground's video interview with Frank Pearce and J. Allen Brack.

Curse has an article up about Azeroth United's fundraiser: Hearts, Hands and Voices.

World of ComicCraft:

Fine, but we're talking about this later!

Bunch of pansy penguin-loving humans!

Skill not high enough?

The Darkshore, but less ocean and more huge spiders!

Is that Kissless... And someone else?!

Hearthstone fail?

Herring seeks your life!

Other Stuff:

Small reminder, a Battle.net account is now required for forum and game login!

MMOZine has released a new issue of their downloadable PDF magazine!

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Gan'jin was a quiet, yet fiercely martial troll. Much of his time was spent honing combat skills. Gan'jin has always used tools he trusted to deliver victory in combat, and those happened to be on the end of his long, slender yet very powerful arms. He knew that the War of the Flowers was soon to be held in Stranglethorns famous Gurubashi Arena, and in order for him to fully please, support and honor his Loa he must be successful within the bloodied confines of the Arena. In previous years Gan'jin has avoided combat in the War of the Flowers, since he feared it would only bring out the worst in him, but this year he had meditated and performed rituals in order to seek calm within himself, and he feels he has achieved this goal.

This year, the War of the Flowers sees Gan'jin fight against his kin on behalf of his Loa, and this year we're certainly in for a show.

World of Warcraft
This weekend saw the Major League Gaming tour stop in Anaheim, US where eight teams were competing for a chance of $24,000 in cash and prizes. In a nail-biting final, the South Korean team Button Bashers won against the European team SK-Gaming with the North American team Check Six coming third. In other news, the Netherlands-based multi-gaming clan H2K-Gaming added a new World of Warcraft team to their roster.

Warcraft III
The 111th edition of the weekly ZOTAC-Cup saw two South Korean players facing each other in the final. In the end the Night Elf player Sung Sik "ReMinD" Kim defeated the Orc player Dong Hwan "viOlet" Kim 3-0. Gosu Gamers takes a look at the group stage of the World Cyber Games 2009 finals in Chengdu, China. Don't miss this exciting event which takes place November 11th – 15th.

StarCraft
This week all eyes are on Chengdu, China for the upcoming finals of the World Cyber Games 2009. Gosu Gamers sits down with some well known players to discuss their predictions for the group stages. "Welcome back, TSL" is what a lot of fans thought when Team Liquid StarLeague #2 was announced with an earth shaking prize pool of $22,000! Are you up for the weekly ZOTAC-Cup? Find more info on how to compete here.

This week on the WoW Europe Community forums:

So this week, we divulge some of our most mean actions performed in-game. Did you intentionally cause a raid wipe because you were angry at something? Did you pull a prank on someone because they wound you up? Did you get someone killed by a pack of angry kobolds purely for the lulz? Let us know!

The World of Warcraft is full of stories, tales and adventure. We want to know what stories within the Warcraft universe you find the most enjoyable, for any reason. They could be chains from WoW, or campaigns from earlier Warcraft titles. Wherever their sourced, we want to know about them!

The Forum Watch would not be complete without a bizarre thread, and this one certainly fits into that category. So, come one and all and let us know which is the more annoying of loots – Fish Oil or Shiny Fish Scales?

Being ganked – A common occurrence on PvP realms and even on some PvE realms if you're not careful with your footing! Some classes, however, notice they avoid the gank more often than not. Perhaps their class is feared by others, or more reputable for holding their own in a fight. Let us know what your anti-ganking class would be, and why!

Guides, guides and guides!

Demonology warlocks will find this PvE guide useful, and the author is working on a 3.3 guide using the PTRs for reference, so be sure to bookmark for future reference!

Imperial, a Shaman of the Horde has written a great guide on the use of totems! It has some stuff in there that even the most seasoned shamans didn't know about.

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Quel'Delar -- prismatic in nature, and wielded by many a valiant high elven warrior throughout the generations lies broken, disgraced and forgotten. Soon enough adventurers will have the chance to reforge this ancient masterpiece -- to have its blade retempered and its brilliance restored. Interest in this weapon has arisen once again, and Azeroth will once more be honoured with the magnificence of the Sister Blade. We want to know what interests you about this weapon, so be sure to keep us informed in this week's poll!

Fan sites:

WorldofWar.net has posted an article about the Sindragosa event, which is one of the hardest encounters in Icecrown Citadel. You can also find a video showing the Gunship Battle, which is another event in Icecrown Citadel.

WoW i Danmark has a titbit about the development history of WoW, which contains a video interview with Tom "Kalgan" Chilton.

World of Warcraft Hungary has made a review of the WotLK Zboard, which is quite extensive and informative.

The Burning Crusade.pl has updated their video library to include two new videos. The first one is part one on an Arthas Retrospective, and the second one portrays the faction leaders arrival at the Argent Tournament grounds.

World of ComicCraft:

Et tu, Cale?

That's right. Penguins come from the Barrens!

Yarrrrr!!! Piracy is srs bsns!

A people and B people… the eternal conflict.

Make haste to Wyrmrest Temple.

All aboard the Toitanic!

Herring seeks your life!

Other Stuff:

The weekly Friday Thread has been posted, and as usual the purpose of this thread is to share and discuss weekend plans

Two new pieces of WoW fan art was recently posted on twitter: the first one portrays Two Taurens, and the second one a confused Goblin "Hunter."

WoW.com has updated their WoW rookie guide with useful addon tips and tricks for newcomers. Also, don't miss this Mellow Halloween WoW movie.

Here is a truly epic piece of Machinima to behold: The Best Kept Secret of the Horde.

And last but not least; The Chronicles of Leeroy Episode 8 - Two Copper Coins has been released, enjoy!

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

The Argent Tournament Grounds are always busy as valiants, aspirants, and Champions from all over the world bustle about participating in training sessions, dueling matches, and jousting. Everyone here is a hero who has proven his or her worth in the past but are now trying to secure their names for the future. Fame and glory, and the prestige that comes with it, will only be rewarded to those who can prove themselves in victory time and again.

But alas, these constant struggles for heroes to become the greatest of the great can sometimes make even the most honourable and noble of warriors forget about the cause he is fighting for in the first place. To forget about the cause is to become vulnerable and subject to defeat.

The Argent Crusade sees it as a holy duty to remind everyone why they struggle and the importance of cooperation, for all will be lost if the world cannot stand united in strength against the Lich King and the horrors he is responsible for. The sacrifices of lost heroes must not be forgotten, for it is because of them and their deeds that the crusade can now push forward and seize the opportunity to put an end to all of this.

A ceremony will soon take place to remember those who fought and died valiantly for the cause, which is to defend Azeroth against the forces of evil. The Argent Crusade calls upon all heroes to honour the glorious fallen!

World of Warcraft
With Major League Gaming's tour stop in Anaheim, US right around the corner, the American based team Evil Geniuses announced their new team roster. You can also check the full roster of all participating teams competing for glory and a nifty amount of prize money. Will one of the six North American teams succeed or will the European or Asian teams come out on top? Time will tell. Make sure to check gotfrag.com to follow the action November 6th – 8th.

Warcraft III
WC3L, the prestigious team league, kicked off this week with some amazing games. Gosu Gamers took a closer look at the teams participating and the tournament format. The Korean Orc player Kim "violet" DongHwan triumphed in this week's ZOTAC-Cup by beating Kim "ReMinD" SungSik, the South Korean Night Elf player, in the finals.

StarCraft
ESL has released the groups for the upcoming Season V of the Major Series. The match schedule for the World Cyber Games 2009 has been released. And finally, the signup for the 29th edition of the weekly ZOTAC-Cup is now open.

This week on the WoW Europe Community forums:

Cataclysm will bring a lot of changes to Azeroth, and the game over all, and many see this as a cue to start over. If you plan on getting a fresh start, what race and class are you going to roll?

These days there are quite a few mounts to be found in the game, and they are all so very different from each other. What is your favourite mount and why?

Of all the funny addons out there, which one is the funniest addon ever?

There are literally thousands of quests in World of Warcraft, and many of them have amusing or peculiar names. In your opinion, what is the best quest name you have seen so far?

Did you start playing back when the game was new? If so, how old is your account?

Guides, guides and guides!

Holy Paladins might find this guide very useful as it can help in determining which stats are more useful when it comes to mana regeneration and throughput.

Here is a guide to help explain which end-game buffs you can get from each profession, so this should be of great help if you have trouble deciding which profession to level.

The guide on heroic virtues and heroic flaws will not be of help in gaining combat, mystical or social advantages, but it will provide inspiration and help roleplayers flesh out their characters.

And last but not least; a few words about possession – a guide for roleplayers, whose characters are possessed by a demon, a genie, a banshee or any other kind of unsavoury spirit.

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

For every beast that you defeat,
for each monster that you slay,
their treasures drop right at your feet,
to reward you as you play!
So you wish to prove your skill against the mighty brood mother of Azeroth, or maybe you only want to slay her for her loot? Perhaps you'd like her head to start the quest, or maybe the rare Onyxian Drake mount? Which treasure from Onyxia do you want? Please share with us in this poll.

Fan sites:

WorldofWar.net has plenty of updates as usual, and amongst them you can learn more about the new WoW: TCG Naxxramas Raid deck as well as the new WoW Masks For Halloween. The worldofwar.net guys have also posted a warning to ATI graphics card owners, that ATI will no longer support DirectX 9

WoW i Danmark is running a banner contest, where you among other things can win Grunty the Murloc Marine

Black Wing's Lair has opened a new section of their homepage dedicated to Cataclysm. They have also posted an informative article about the Abyssal Maw

World of ComicCraft:

They can only hope that they won't need to fight everything they meet

Richard can't just give them the bunny!

SQUAWKZOOAARR!!

The highest priority is getting a ton of candy

Morning elves

It is only logical to get candy from the Alliance if you cannot get candy from the Horde.

It is bad when there is so much FAIL that one can hardly breathe

You do not ask the Headless Horseman to leave his hat

Other Stuff:

The Friday Thread has been posted and this week it is about Halloween costumes, WoW themed street-art and of course plans for the weekend.

As part of their Halloween celebration, the Escapist magazine is offering you a chance to win Grunty the Murloc Marine. All you've got to do is answer all ten questions in their WoW Halloween quiz

Amongst the tons of updates, guides and titbits found on wow.com, you can find a really cool gallery of unusual, beautiful or interesting World of Warcraft images

Have a magnificent weekend everyone! :-)

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

A Grand Costume Ball has been planned by the Town of Brill and Royal Surveyors Society to celebrate the passing of yet another year. All well known members of the Horde are invited, as well as those with a distinguished military career. Invitations have been posted upon notice boards in Thunderbluff, Booty Bay, and even a tattered copy has found its way to the Stormwind board as well.

This year's Hallows End Masque Gala will be both marvellous and mysterious as everyone attending will be wearing scary costumes. There will be a magnificent banquet and wonderful dancing, and the traditional burning of the wicker man will be an awe-inspiring sight. Splendid contests of all sorts will take place, and winners fill be found amongst those with the best costumes and those with the best storytelling talents. There will be a Pantomime play and Fireworks, and towards the end a new Queen and Lord will be crowned for another years reign.

This event is being brought to you by the members of Brill and the Royal Surveyors Society.

If you have any in-game events you would like to bring to the Community's attention, please be sure post up the details of the event in the Events and Fan Creations forum. We go through that forum every Thursday to look for events that can be added to our Community Events page.

World of Warcraft
At the start of November, the Major League Gaming tour is coming to Anaheim, US. Eight teams will battle for glory, prize money and a chance to compete in the MLG World of Warcraft championship in January. The official team list for MLG Anaheim has now been published. In addition the European online qualifications for Season Four of the Intel Extreme Masters will begin soon.

Warcraft III
In mid-November, the Grand finals of the WCG 2009 will take place. The group drawings have now been published. The South Korea Orc player June "Lyn" Park was victorious in the weekly ZOTAC-Cup where he beat the South Korean Orc player Hyo Sub "Focus" Eom in a close final. Looking forward to Season XVI of ESL's WC3L series? The team tournament starts pretty soon with a lot of high class matches scheduled on play day one.

StarCraft
The finals of the World Cyber Games 2009 are getting closer and closer. The organisers have published the results of the group drawings and we are now looking forward to those games which begin soon. The weekly ZOTAC-Cup saw some impressive games this week. In the end the German Zerg player Anton "kolll" Emmerich achieved victory in the 27th edition of this weekly tournament.

This week on the WoW Europe Community forums:

We are on Twitter! That is right, you can follow us on Twitter and get the latest news and updates, community creation highlights, forum posts and more

Xenoronin is back with a new version of Pimp my UI and this week the focus is on Shaman mods. As usual you can also find a weekly macro, a featured UI and other stuff worth checking out

We all have our favourite things in World of Warcraft, and in this thread you can post yours.

Here is a question that we have seen every time a new expansion has been announced: What things do you want to see in the new expansion?

In your opinion, what is the hardest class to play in PvP?

PvP forum myths ... Do you know them?

And last but not least; What is your daily money making routine?

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

You've been smart and have converted to Battle.net already, right? You haven't?! But you need it or you can't play WoW after November 12th! You'll get a cute penguin in-game pet if you do. Interested now, or have you already converted to Battle.net? Well we're kinda curious, so we've set up a new poll in our forums: did you already merge your WoW account into a Battle.net account?

Fan Sites:

WorldofWar.net has articles up about PTR 3.3 Festergut and Blizzard at Igromir! In Russia.

Curse.com has an article including a video about the Shadowmourne quest.

World of Raids has an article about the WoW Developer Twitter Q&A, and also about the PTR testing of the Gunship battle!

WoW Serbia has an article up about the new LFG system, Icecrown's new weather and the Map/Questlog UI changes.

World of ComicCraft:

Respect my... Bunny?

Behold... The cataclysm!

How the innkeeper bind spell works!

It'll be light soon. I'll wake the others!

Thank you for saving the cursed dryads!

Other Stuff:

This week's Friday thread is up and running and waiting to hear about your plans for the weekend.

DreamHack has published the tournament rules for their upcoming World of Warcraft Tournament in Skellefteå.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Life is full of beauty, and so is death – or rather, undeath, as it appears. Deep underground, below the ruined city of Lordaeron, lies the Undercity; home to festering abominations, to an army of Forsaken, yes – even to their banshee Queen. It is this beauty that once again is to be subjected to judges as Forsaken contestants sign up in hopes of fame, fortune, and appreciation. For contestants such as Korisa the Wild, a true beauty even in her natural attire, this contest could be the golden ticket she has been waiting for.

On her way to fame and fortune, how wonderful would it be to be known as the hottest mage in all the lands of the Forsaken?

If you have any in-game events you would like to bring to the Community's attention, please be sure post up the details of the event in the Events and Fan Creations forum. We go through that forum every Thursday to look for events that can be added to our Community Events page.

World of Warcraft
SK Gaming's very own mage Mark "Pookz" Rendon shares his opinion in a blog about the line up of the upcoming Major League Gaming tournament in Anaheim, US. For more information about this tournament itself check out the official MLG site.

Warcraft III
A very interesting article which compares Warcraft and soccer players comes from Michael "Zechs" Radford from SK-Gaming. The weekly ZOTAC-Cup saw South Korean Night Elf player Kim "ReMinD" SungSik winning the finals over South Korean Undead player Park Sueng "Space" Hyun. Also Chinese Human player Huang "Th000" Xiang was crowned as the ESL's new King of the Hill champion after beating the South Korean Orc player Jang "WhO" DuSeop. The group stage of the Shadow league where old and new school players battle each other has started and the first results have been published. Make sure you follow it!

StarCraft
On Saturday, 24th October, the grand finals of the GosuCup Season 2 will kick off, featuring some very exciting players. Also make sure to check out the current results of the WGTour Clan League where Russia-based team RoX is currently leading with Templars of Twilight following in second position. Now let's play! The sign ups are open for ESL's Major Series Qualification Cup #4. It might be your last chance to grab a spot for this season.

Plump pumpkins adorn the various nooks and crannies of the towns and cities in Azeroth, glowing with the haunting hue of burning candles. Bottomless buckets of sweet and tasty candy can be found in all the Inns, ready for passersby to gorge on. People can be seen running in the streets, their faces disguised in the masks of the various races of Azeroth and some people even taking on an entirely new form only possible with the use of magic! All the fun and games, however, can become overshadowed by the more sinister callings of an evil being… So prepare yourselves, the bells have tolled! Shelter your weak, your young and your old! Each of you shall pay the final sum! Cry for mercy; the reckoning has come! Let us know in this week's poll what your focus will be this Hallow's End!

This week on the WoW Europe Community forums:

A rare treat on the community forums and it comes in the flavour of a gritty of debate with a dash of nostalgia for seasoning. The Dungeoncrawl! Posters are discussing how instances have evolved over the years, and the pros and cons of change.

We've all been there! Those moments where you think you'd just done something so foolish, for it to actually all turn out ok! Endrage has shared with us his moment, so stop by and tell us when your /facepalms turned to /cheers!

This hallows end you're no doubt going to see some interesting sights! So get screenprinting and show us your best!

Over the years we at Blizzard have crafted a collection of various cinematics, so (dare we possibly delve off topic!) stop on by and tell us which your favourite is!

Guides, guides and guides!

Hallow's End is upon us, and Alizea has written an great guide on the various To Dos and events of this year's Hallows' End.

With the news that merging your WoW account to a Battle.net account will become a requirement soon, Venefico has written a detailed guide on how to merge your WoW account to a Battle.net account!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fan Sites:

WorldofWar.net has a great amount of content this week, including a preview of some scans of the upcoming manga: World of Warcraft: Death Knight. There is also a great article all about the Authenticator, including the so very accurate words "It takes hundreds of hours to obtain Tier 8-9 items, it takes mere minutes [for the evil doers] to breach your account." Last but by no means least; they have a competition running to win yourself one of five Grunty the Murloc Marine in-game pets!

Curse.com is also holding a contest for the lucky winners to be able to adopt their very own Grunty Marine!

Goblin Explosives is... wait... We're spotting a trend here! They seem to have a competition running in which the lucky winner(s) can win themselves a (you guessed it!) Grunty the Murloc Marine!

World of ComicCraft:

Plenty of different ways to go from here.

How may we serve thee, O Lord?

Lock 'N' Load, Team!

Drawing Keydar!

Do you ever think of what you'll leave behind?

I wonder what it'll be.

OMG You're a beauty!

Other Stuff:

This week's Friday thread is up and running and waiting to hear about your plans for the weekend. A certain Gorloc is positively buzzing about his recent purchase, so come and poke fun at him for being a fiercely geeky Gorloc.

Wow! And we mean this in more than one way! With news of Deathwing making a cataclysmic return to the fresh air of Azeroth, one particular fan (and fiercely talented artist) has begun the process of sculpting the beast. We cannot put words on paper to describe how simply awesome this is. They do not do it justice.

Afterdeath brings us a delivery of some touching, emotional and very cleverly made machinima this week. It's a really beautiful piece of filmwork within the world of Azeroth that taps into the heart and soul. We always love to see newcomers to the machinima scene show us that even debut movies can rock our world.

Machinima legend Gnomechewer returns, and with him he brings a new video – 'Dream an Emerald Dream' – a crazy journey into the world of the Emerald Dream, featuring Team Malfurion, Team Corrupted-Green-Dragonflight-Plus-Old-God-Nightmare-etcetc... and loads of choppers!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fizzix Gearwax is a busy gnome, or normally he is a busy gnome that is, but lately business has been slow. Fissix is not so worried about that though, because he knows fully well that engineering is a shifty business… sometimes there is simply no demand for the trinkets, instruments and devices he has to offer. What Fizzix is more concerned about is being bored, because slow business usually means slow time, and slow time is boring time!

Luckily for Fizzix though, events and happenings are taking place all the time, it is simply just a matter of finding out where and when exactly things happen. One of the best places for finding out these things is the 'Events and Notices' board on the wall of the Legerdemain Lounge in city of Dalaran, and since boredom is sneaking up on Fizzix, he decides to go there now.

Fizzix finds the 'Events and Notices' board and he is thrilled to discover that there are quite a few things happening over the next few days or so. All he has to do now is to decide on what sounds the most exciting. There are the mysterious apple salesmen in Stormwind who seems quite intriguing but also dangerous. There is the new restaurant in Orgrimmar that has a master chef, who seems to be quite skilled. Then there is the Miss Exodar competition, with both classy and knowledgeable ladies participating. And last but not least, there is the dueling tournament in Nagrend. Fizzix has a hard time deciding on just one event to go to, so he stands there a long time reading all the notes and flyers over and over again.

If you have any in-game events you would like to bring to the Community's attention, please be sure post up the details of the event in the Events and Fan Creations forum. We go through that forum every Thursday to look for events that can be added to our Community Events page.

World of Warcraft
Noonia and Fraki from SK Sansibar have now released the second part of their Arena guide. Part two is about analysing mistakes after an arena game. As in all professional eSports games, teams tend to change as do the members within them. This week SK Gaming announced their new European WoW Team with some familiar faces; like Inflame who won BlizzCon 2008 with Nihilum Plasma. In addition, the team CheckSix Gaming returns to the scene with an American WoW team: The MLG Dallas winner: eMG.

Warcraft III
Last week saw the Chinese based team of World Elite winning the team based league NGL ONE finals by beating MYM in the finals. Also the weekly ZOTAC-Cup took place which saw a lot of famous names in the grid. In the final: South Korean Night Elf player Check won 3-0 against the "Orc King" Grubby. Another prestigious showcase match is taking place this Thursday at 4pm CEST -- ESL's King of the Hill where reigning champion WhO (Orc) from South Korea is trying to defend his title versus the Chinese Human player THOOO.

StarCraft
The Italian qualifiers for the WCG 2009 saw success for Protoss player Cloud, qualifying him for the Global Finals in Chengdu, China to represent Italy. This coming Sunday the Qualification Cup #3 for the ESL Major Series Season V is taking place. Check it out here. The 26th edition of the weekly ZOTAC-Cup turned out to be a Zerg fest as both finalist were Zerg players. Naugrim from Sweden won 3:2 over the Canadian XiaOzI. Congratulations!

The heroes and denizens of Azeroth come from a wide variety of generations. Whether the heroes are old or young, one thing can be said about every hero: their age factors not in their ability to be heroic! You guys and girls are the heroes of Azeroth and what we ask of you this week is simple: How old are you? (Don't worry, we won't tell anyone!)

This week on the WoW Europe Community forums:

It is no secret that amongst us are heroes from the mighty Horde and some from the proud Alliance. Do tell us though, why do you like your faction?

So we know now why you like your faction! But it cant be that everything is good about them, right? There is no such thing as perfection! Perhaps you're sick to death of pesky little gnomes? Or maybe that unwashed tauren is beginning to smell like a wet dog? Tell us then what you dislike about your faction!

With the above questions in mind, we'd also like to know who you think the best Horde and Alliance leaders are, and maybe a little detail on why you feel that way!

Guides, guides and guides!

With the news that merging your WoW account to a Battle.net account will become a requirement soon, Venefico has written a detailed guide on how to merge your WoW account to a Battle.net account!

Bring depth to the extremes of Good and Evil can be a tough task for the avid roleplayer. Kalitari has written a simply amazing guide on the complexities of good and evil characters as well as actions within the realms of the roleplayer.

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fan Sites:

WorldofWar.net has plenty of updates as usual, and amongst them you can find a video showing the new model of Forgemaster Garfrost, the undead frost giant. You can also learn more about the Lore behind Muradin Bronzebeard, as you may know didn't die in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos… part one and part two of this lore article are now available.

WoW i Danmark has posted the trailer for Origine Episode 2.

WoW Nederland would like to remind you that their contests will close soon, so hurry up if you don't want to miss the chance of winning some nice loot.

WoW-Serbia has been updated with new Web technology and a more Fancy look, so check it out. On this site, you can also find an update about the Tier 10 preview along with set bonuses.

World of ComicCraft:

It is simply rude to forget someone's deathday!

Time to even the odds, shcum!... *hic*

Just pretend to be an NPC and your luck will change.

Lightspark is not the type who quits when the going gets tough…

Happy Birthday, World of Warcraft, Eh?

This disguise… it's… it's horrible!

Other Stuff:

This week's Friday thread has been posted, and it is full of random stuff like bearded ladies and nuclear batteries. The purpose of this thread is the same as usual, to share and discuss random stuff as well as your plans for the weekend.

Warcraft Portugal has made an update on the ranking score of Portuguese guilds on their site, who have now been ranked by achievements and ranked by encounter.

Recently on one of our Russian realms, a casual Mommoth ride around Dalaran turned into a fully fledged Mammoth Parade.

Last but not least; here is a great video showing Ulduar in a way you have probably never seen before. This video was recorded during a 25 man hard-mode raid, but despite this, it introduces the dungeon and each fight in a way that can be appreciated by everyone.

Have a glorious weekend, everybody!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Grian was flicking through the pages of his diary to see what cool events were coming up that he could attend. There was of course the exciting and thrilling scheduled attempt to retrieve the Book of Gorefiend, he would certainly be going to that. There was also the battle royale to be held in the Arathi Highlands that he planned to attend. The last event in his diary was the Big Train event in Durotar that was advertised a couple of weeks ago, that one sounded like a good laugh! He looked up from the pages of his diary to the 'Events and Notices' board on the wall in front of him. He had taken note of all the upcoming events, there were no more... Perhaps someone will come up with some more interesting events?

If you have do have any in-game events you'd like to bring to the Community's attention, please be sure post up the details of the event the Community News & Events forum.

World of Warcraft
Looking for some Arena action? The signups for Season 4 of the Intel Extreme Masters World of Warcraft qualifications are now open. The ESL also published a full overview of the tournament structure which you can find here. Ghingis, an experienced Warlock player from Sweden published his first part of his Arena Guide for Warlocks. Check out part 1 which focuses on the strength of each talent tree and common mistakes of Warlocks in Arenas.

Warcraft III
Last weekend saw a lot of intense games at the Intel Extreme Masters Global Challenge in Chengdu, China where 12 of the finest WarCraft III players from all over the world competed for the title and $10.000 prize money. The matches between the Night Elf player Moon and Orc player FoCuS were highly praised especially. In the end the Chinese Orc player Fly100% secured the 1st place in two towerful matches against Moon, the famous Night Elf player from South Korea.

StarCraft
Some more national qualifiers for the World Cyber Games of 2009 finished. In Croatia the Zerg player Ptak has had a flawless tournament and secures his ticket for the WCG 2009. The Russian WCG 2009 qualifier finished with the Ukrainian Terran player BRAT_OK on top. A full coverage report of the WCG USA national finals including an interview with the crowned champion: Terran player IdrA. Also the BlizzCon StarCraft Invitational participant and Zerg player Ret from the Netherlands sat down with SCForAll.com to talk about his plans to go to South Korea for his pro gamer career. Canadian Zerg player XiaOzI claimed victory in the 25th edition of the weekly ZOTAC-Cup. If you are up for the challenge sign up for this week's edition over at the ZOTAC-Cup page.

As you wake from a lengthy dream you find yourself in the halls of Icecrown Citadel. Looking around, you become aware of the power surging deep within you, a power eternal. At your side is the runeblade Frostmourne, calling out for you to grasp its hilt and wield it with your very soul. In the dungeons below there are many prisoners just waiting for your judgement, a sentence of servitude unquestioned. The ancient magic flowing through your body and mind allows you to command and control creations of undeath; Frost Wyrms, Liches and the Scourge army are all at your bidding with the snap of a finger. Upon realising that you have turned into the very evil you once sought to destroy, your thoughts gather in contemplation on the most important matter: What is the coolest part of being the Lich King?

This week on the WoW Europe Community forums:

Xenoronin has returned to us and once again he brings us another version of Pimp My UI, the 102nd version to be exact. The primary mod subject of this PMUI is Rogue Mods, so give it a look if you play a Rogue and wish to improve your gameplay. The PMUI also contains other goodies, such as Macro of the Week, UI of the week and other things worth checking out.

Guild recruitment can be a complicated endeavour, especially for roleplayers, so it is only a good idea to have a thread dedicated to advice, tips, and ideas for guild recruitment that works.

In order to make sure that a PUG raid has a decent chance of success, what is the best setup for such a raid?

If you got a one-time-only chance to play any Race/Class combination of your choice, what would you play?

Guides, guides and guides!

We have a couple of new guides for the Priests this week:

• The first guide is more of a compilation of various macros useful to Priests. Depending on which addons you use for healing, or general preferences when it comes to healing, this macro compilation might come in handy.
• The second guide is a FAQ targeted at Shadow Priests. It contains a list of common questions and answers useful for Shadow Priests who are new to raiding.

If you would like to play on the Public Test Realm, then you might wish to give this FAQ and HOW TO guide a read before you start.

Here is the thread for you if you are looking for information on our paid services and other relevant information related to those services?

Yet another bump for the guide on how to get the mobile authenticator to work on most cell phones. It is worth giving a read if you seek to further protect your account.

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fan Sites:

WorldOfWar.net this week has an interesting article on the birth of phasing technology, as well as some small hints on further zone changes in Cataclysm.

World of Warcraft Hungary has a translated version of a very important sticky thread that provides details on account security, and a continuing flow of other localised information for our Hungarian community.

The Burning Crusade, one of our Polish fansites, has some great information about Icecrown Citadel in the upcoming patch 3.3, as well as further details about the Cataclysmic events of the next expansion.

World of ComicCraft:

Bigger doesn't necessarily mean harder to defeat.

There is movement in the Temple.

Vallant still thinks the key to the madness is the Pigeon.

Framing people is a tricky business… especially when it backfires!

You can get so much further by just being nice.

He who crosses the Bridge of Death must answer these questions three…

Faction change is indeed very much like a cosmetic surgery.

We're no strangers to WoW… you grind honor, and so do I…

The nine circles of MMORPG hell!

Other Stuff:

The Friday Thread has been posted, and this week it is about aggressive gamers and animal defense mechanisms. It is also in this thread where you can discuss and share plans for the weekend.

You may remember Gutrot, who recently celebrated his dinging of the 80th level of naked gameplay. Here is some excellent footage from his celebration party!

LolitaCrim Productions has posted a quite interesting work of Machinima titled Conquered by Wrath.

The Alliance Herald, the premiere newssheet in Stormwind, has a juicy new issue fresh off the presses! Read all about the fearsome beasts of the Argent Tournament, the conflicts over precious resources in Northrend, the murder of Southshore's Mayor, the soaring crime in Stormwind and of course the Miss Southshore pageant.

Have a wonderful weekend, everybody!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

It was early on a Monday morning, the mist of the night was making its final assault on the lands surrounding the camp before being abolished by the warmth of the morning sun. Silverpine forest, filled with life - or rather, undeath, now made house for a camp filled with agile and mighty warriors ready to do battle against the armies of the Horde in the north.

As usual, the leader of a small but elite group of alliance fighters, Leolann Hazann could be found preparing his troops for battle under the banner of Conquest. His comrades, veteran warriors experienced in all forms of combat, were all but tired and unprepared. To them, this was to be a routine cleansing of the filth and evil that has taken root in the world. This was not the first time they had taken up arms against the Horde, and most certainly would not be the last.

Renowned heroes such as Kittenclaws the Nocturnal, Gritter the Holy and Robyyn the Cleaver were amongst the members of Leolann's folly. This time their target was not the ancient dragons of the world, nor the old gods, but rather the mass armies of Horde. This time it was not for glory, but for revenge. Revenge and tribute, to their fallen legacy of heroes past. It was then the message came from over the hills.

"This is nothing but temporary insanity. The armies of the horde have gathered in much larger numbers than expected." Hazann yawned and shrugged. He then gave the order: "Business as usual folks, saddle up and get ready to ride the snake! Not even their bat alarms will save them this time!"

World of Warcraft
If you want to relive your favourite moments from this year’s tournaments, we’ve got you covered. The Videos on Demand (VODs) for the featured stage matches from the World of Warcraft stages are now available on our video archive for your viewing pleasure. Switching from viewing to communication which plays a vital role in Arena games. Check out the Arena guide by SK.Noonia and SK.Fraki as part one is about communication during an arena game.

Warcraft III
The Spanish Orc player LucifroN who recently won the European Regional Finals sat down with mymym.com for an interview to talk about his career and his future. Back to the tournaments: In the intense final of the ZOTAC-Cup #105 the Korean Night Elf player ReMinD defeated the Dutch player Grubby, also dubbed “King of Orcs”. In addition ReMinD also defended his title in Season 4 of the XPLeague. In the finals he beat the Korean Orc player Lyn with a flawless 3:0.

StarCraft
The World Cyber Games is one of the most prestigious tournaments. Every year players from all over the world can qualify and represent their country, kind of like the Olympics. Currently the qualifiers are taking place in many countries. View the results or check the replay pack of the Ukrainian qualifier over at GosuGamers. Whilst you’re there you can also check the results of the American WCG qualifier! If you are up for the challenge you also want to check out the 25th edition of the ZOTAC-Cup. It is a weekly tournament open to everyone which takes place every Saturday.

So you dared awaken the dragon! You were brave enough to flip one of the mightiest creatures of Azeroth the birdie whilst screaming "Didn’t I like completely own you 20 levels ago?" at the top of your voice! Well, how did it go? Was your trip back into the Brood Mother’s lair fuelled with success, or filled with failure? Did she drop faster than a level 1 in Icecrown, or does she currently have your guild on farm status? Let us know in this week’s poll!

This week on the WoW Europe Community forums:

We mentioned last week the honourable Gutrot was soon to celebrate his dinging of the 80th level of naked gameplay. Well, ladies and naked-trolls, he did it! Share your congratulatory words with the troll here, or simply take a look at what others have said, as well as looking at some of the videos and screenshots on offer.

Different zones capture different emotions, moods or feelings. Some people love the rolling hills of Nagrand, and others the beautifully crafted landscapes of the Stormpeaks. Stop on by and tell us which is your favourite zone, and why!

Can YOU trust gnomes?

Are you a writer and seek to have your some of your work published? If so, then we would love to receive your fan fiction for the Gadgetzan Times.

Guides, guides and guides!

Sikon, a Draenei from the realms of the Argent Dawn, has written the beginnings of a guide on roleplaying a Draenei and it is set to evolve and become more elaborate over time, certainly one for the RPing Draenei amongst us.

Stabinator from Lightbringer has written a great guide on the art of PvP twinking in 3.2.2 – coupled with other guides he recommends in the thread, this is a must read for all PvPers avoiding the level cap.

Managing a Guild is a tough task, but someone has to do it. Thankfully Kounamouta of The Aunans has written a great guide on managing a PvE raiding guild.

This one sure deserves a bump from last week. Slappy of Frostmane has posted a guide on how to get the mobile authenticator to work on most cell phones. Consider giving it a read if you seek to further protect your account.

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fan Sites:

WorldofWar.net has an article up about Richard Knaak signing in Kansas and Missouri, GDC China featuring a Blizzard Keynote, and finally a note about the World of Warcraft Special #1.

Curse has an article up about Battleground experience, and also an article about the universe behind WoW.

World of Warcraft Nederland has an announcement about their new Cataclysm site, a guide to the new Onyxia encounter, and also a guide for normal and heroic ToC encounters.

World of ComicCraft:

Excellent idea. Let’s try it!

Let me ease your pain, at least temporarily!

All hail our beloved furbolg queen!

Did he just cough money?

But why would it be here?

Look, there they are!

Go ahead and ask me, bridgekeeper. I’m not afraid.

Do I really need therapy?

What really goes on in the Twisting Nether!

Other Stuff:

The Friday Thread of this week has been posted. Be sure to check out the strange pictures of our canine friends….

Have a wonderful weekend, everybody!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Pimon Segg and Hark Meap, two young and mischievous Orcs, we're stood at the ostentatious gates to Orgrimmar looking for something mildly troublesome to keep them entertained. They had wanted to travel to Thunder Bluff to visit their equally mischievous friend Evin Keldon, but they had not enough gold to pay the Goblins for the journey, and they were afraid of crossing the Barrens alone without some form of escort or guard. Pimon was becoming restless.

'Hark, let's see if anything is going on down in Razor Hill.' said Pimon to his friend. Hark didn't respond verbally, he just nodded in quiet agreement.

They began to head south on the path that began within Orgrimmar itself, with brawlers left and right of them, practicing their battle tactics with each other. As they walked, they heard a noise from behind, quiet at first, but growing louder and in increasing clarity. The noise was bizarre, almost train like...

'WOOOOOOOOWOOOOOOOO-CHUGGACHUGGA-CHUGGACHUGGA-CHUGGACHUGGA-WOOOOOOOOWOOOOOOOO!'

It was then they saw a snake of people leaving Orgrimmar behind them, forming what could only be described as a train made of flesh, walking in unison in the Durotar sun, headed in the direction of the Barrens. The two Orcs stopped in their tracks and watched for a moment as the 'Train' passed by, and looked at each other, impressed with simply how many folks were evolved in this random act of madness.

But hey, it looked like fun! They tagged on the back of the train, and joined in with the laughter and frolics of those in front. Moments later, more people joined on behind, old and young, men and women. This was the biggest organic train Durotar had ever seen, and it was headed off slowly into the sunset of the Barrens...

StarCraft
Tune into to the "StarCraft with Brent and Kenny" show on September 25th when DjWHEAT who is known from casting the BlizzCon StarCraft Invitational will make a special guest appearance. In addition the Dutch Zerg player Ret who participated in the StarCraft Invitational at BlizzCon 2009 has been interviewed and talks about his BlizzCon impressions and his future. If you prefer to play, then how about you join 24th edition of the weekly ZOTAC-Cup and win a nice cash prize?

Warcraft III
The ESL Warcraft International Premiership (WCIP) is a team based Warcraft III League in which 12 teams from all over the world battle for the crown. Season IV has just been finished with the reformed Meet your Makers squad winning the finals over the French clan Millenium. You can also find an interview with Season IV's Most Valuable Player of Season IV, German Orc player S.o.k.o.l right here. More action? Korea Night Elf player Check from SK Gaming has won the weekly edition of the ZOTAC-Cup in what were some very intense games, winning 3 to 2 over the Orc player vIOlet from Korea. You can grab the replays right here.

World of Warcraft
Does MLG ring a bell? Yes! MLG stands for Major League Gaming. The 2nd tour stop of the professional 3v3 Arena Tournament series has finished some time ago and the organizers now published the current team standings. Check them out here. You may also want to read the related news over at Fnatic.com.

Do you dare awake the dragon? Are you brave enough to flip one of the mightiest creatures of Azeroth the birdie? Dare you tempt not just your own fate, but that of your comrades around you with gestures designed to invoke anger and rage? What if you are faced with someone who will not just spit fire back at you, but take a deep breath before doing so? Many a mighty adventurer has done this before and soon it will be your turn to do it again. Before that, however, we wish to ask you the following: Which line do you think is the best for angering she who is known as Onyxia the Broodmother?

This week on the WoW Europe Community forums:

Having levelled from 1-79 naked and unarmed, it is finally time for Gutrot to reach Level 80. A massive party is planned to celebrate this epic feat of Gutrot, and you are invited!

Which creatures would you like to see more of in Cataclysm?

What is the best methods of keeping a tidy guildbank?

Some guilds are having trouble recruiting good raiders needed to progress through content. What advice would you offer to guilds finding themselves in that situation?

Are you a writer and seek to have your some of your work published? If so, then we would love to receive your fan fiction for the Gadgetzan Times!

Guides, guides and guides!

Vaillefendre of Emerald Dream has updated the Death Knight Quick FAQ, which offers a quick glance of some possibilities on how to spec your Death Knight.

An extensive as well as excellent healing guide for Restoration Druids has been posted, a must read if you play a Druid and are preparing to heal in raids.

Kalitari of Defias Brotherhood has posted a guide on how to roleplay beyond Good and Evil. This will show you how you bring depth into characters by having good heroes commit evil deeds or having evil villains do good, and it will also tell you why it is difficult to roleplay a true neutral character.

Slappy of Frostmane has posted a guide on how to get the mobile authenticator to work on most cell phones. Consider giving it a read if you seek to further protect your account.

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fan Sites:

World of Warcraft Nederland has announced three contests in the last week, with prizes to the winners of each contest; you can read more about this here. In addition to that, you can read up on their very handy Brewfest guide (in Dutch, of course!) that covers events, locations, achievements – basically all that is needed to be a Brewfest success! Last but not least, you can also see and read a little more about an announced zone in the Cataclysm expansion: The Abyssal Maw.

Worldofwar.net has some good reads this week, including a round-up of this year's Darkmoon Faire in Amsterdam, as well as a round-up of the GDC Austin 2009, which offered some insight into the world behind the World of Warcraft. There are lots of other interesting articles, so do stop on by and have a read!

World of ComicCraft:

I haven't lost my mind, I'm not going mad.

I don't want to hear it, Pella.

All hail our beloved furbolg queen!

Did he just cough money?

We have to do something!

Look, there they are!

Go ahead and ask me, bridgekeeper. I'm not afraid.

Do I really need therapy?

Here, take care of this venomhide hatchling...

Other Stuff:

The Day Before Saturday Thread, commonly referred to as The Friday Thread, has been posted. It's not too late to join in and share with us the events of your weekend!

Hear 'The Tale of Pally Pete', an entrant into the Blizzcon 2009 Original Song contest, and came out in third place. A video will be joining this awesome ballad soon™!

See the amazing 'Make me get my main' by Cranius and Legs – another winner from Blizzcon 2009, taking home first prize in the Movie contest!

Some of you may know of Gutrot, and others perhaps not. Gutrot is a troll warrior from the realms of Aerie Peak, and his fists are feared by many an NPC (You can read more about Gutrot here). For those who know all about Gutrot, then you'll be pleased to know the time has come for Gutrot to ding level 80, and this time he plans on throwing another party!

Have a wonderful weekend everybody!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

"...And the evil that has been vanquished shall rise again, and all creation..." Rolf, the super duper mega ultra hyper scary bunny of Goldshire was rehearsing his world domination speech. His significant other, Lucy Lu, was just shaking her head, sighing to herself. Goldshire being currently devoid of adventurers has left the natural order of (evil) things to blossom. With nobody taking care of business (read thinning down the bunny population), things were beginning to take on a life of its own.

Rolf's jaws dropped to the floor. "What... the… heck?!?" It was early morning in Goldshire, and Rolf was patrolling his territory endlessly. What he saw across from the borders of North Goldshire was bad. Very bad – There were more than a dozen new adventurers preparing to enter the village. For Rolf, and his evil plan, this was a catastrophe. Nobody was to find out about the evil bunnies. Nobody! Ever!

StarCraft
StarCraft and eSports at the Institute of Arts? Yes, that's correct! The former Korean player Nal_rA will become a teacher in the Seoul Institute of the Arts to teach eSports and pro-gaming. On the subject of teaching; German based clan Templars of Twilight taught the Russian based clan, Rox, a 6 to 1 lesson in the Titan League Playoffs. Congratulation ToT! Read on for some of player interviews. Up for a little bit of Nostalgia? Team Liquid presents the Nostalgia tournament where old school players meet the new school.

Warcraft III
The Electronic Sports League has revealed the four groups of the upcoming 16th season of the WC3L which is a team based tournament. Don't miss the action on September 19th when hundreds of players from all over the world compete to be at the top of the ranks in the weekly edition of the ZOTAC WarCraft III Cup. Match day one of the Shadowleague has finished and some old school players have shown their talent in beating rivals.

World of Warcraft
Time to show your skills! The start of the online qualification for Season IV of the Intel Extreme Masters is getting closer. The Electronic Sports League has released an overview of how to qualify for the European Championship of their tournament series.

Fan sites:

WorldofWar.net has plenty of updates as usual, and amongst them you can find more details about the Zones and Dungeons in Cataclysm. You can also learn more about the new comic World of Warcraft: Death Knight that contains an original story that studies the newest class in the game.

WoWJuju has updated their Reputation Calculator after a long period of collecting feedback and suggestions.

WoW i Danmark has a three video updates for us this week. The first video is from Oxhorn, and is titled Work Work, Zug zug, Dabu! The second video is a new song from Decision og Neflian, and it's called Teach me how to Pwn. The third video, by Director Teagen the Rogue and Wicked Wood Studios,is called Worgen of Stormwind

WoW Nederland has updated their site with three lovely pieces of fan art for your enjoyment.

World of Warcraft Hungary is reviewing the FlightHUD addon, which is both really cool and fun, but maybe also slightly silly ;-)

World of ComicCraft:

Moo in Black is a new comic series about two Taurens on a mission.

Cattaclysmic Events is relaying a message from Onyxia, who seem to be mocking us...

You gotta stay sharp if you do not want to end up on the menu

The sons are here...

Arthas is descending into madness!

If an Orc thinks in Orcish , would you be able to understand him if you could read minds?

Don't worry about the scarecrows...

How did the Worgen come to master the Druidic arts?

Ninja looters ... they need help!

Other Stuff:

The Day After Thursday Thread, sometimes also known as The Friday Thread, has been posted. Use it to share your plans for the weekend or talk about pets and space telescopes.

In a world of gamers, it is unforgivable to have n00b boyfriend... n00bs are to be pwned, not loved!

Zukuu of Destromath has released his second Destruction Duel Guide video, and it is quite excellent. A must see if you play a Destruction Warlock and like to PvP.

MrVoletron has made two excellent pieces of music, or remixes if you will, in which he has incorporated the voices of WoW bosses:

Thorim ft. Onyxia Wipe Guy - I Remember U

XT-002 - U R Bad Toys

Not so long ago, on the Frostwhisper realm, a Community Event involving a lot of running Gnomes took place... Behold! the Great Gnome Run!

Call of Torment is the name of a neat little movie, which is actually a fictional trailer for a fan movie that has yet to be made.

After a lot of hard work and planning, Thyade and Whizky has completed the first part of their new movie: The Great Father

And last but not least; Turalyan of Eonar has made his impression of what he thinks the World of Warcraft: Cataclysm box may look like

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

The recent times of war have been hard on the city of Silvermoon, and the once great and beautiful city is now scared and bruised after years of conflict. But the city still stands and its citizens are in high spirit. Silvermoon is being rebuilt and before you know it, the city will have been restored to its former glory.

But the city still needs business if civilian life is to be restored fully as well, but re-establishing trade with the outside world is a complicated task. Since Silvermoon is no longer the centre of the civilized world, merchants must be guaranteed profitable opportunities if they are to travel the great distances through dangerous lands. The citizens of Silvermoon know this, which is why they are doing their very best to make the city bazaar as attractive and appealing as possible.

The citizens of Silvermoon and the Legion of the Sun are preparing a great market day, dedicated to the strength and glory of the Horde, which will truly bring prestige to Silvermoon and re-establish the city as one of Azeroth's major economic powers.

The harvest market will be truly magnificent. It will be an uplifting experience for spirit and soul, and it is guaranteed that dark times and troubles will be forgotten at least for a while. Merchants from every Horde territory will be present, and they will be offering all manners of goods, both common and rare, from both near and afar. A grand parade will also take place to show the unity of the Horde and this unity will bolster the hope for a brighter tomorrow.

World of Warcraft
The Electronic Sports League has announced the structure of the upcoming World of Warcraft tournament of the Intel Extreme Masters Season 4. The qualifier will start October 19th and ends November 8th. Details of how to sign up for the qualification will be released in the upcoming weeks.

Warcraft III
You missed some of the BlizzCon 2009 matches? We got you covered! The Videos on Demand (VOD's) for the featured stage matches are now available on the video archive at the Blizzcon page. The WC3L is a highly prestigious team league where teams from all over the globe fight to become the team champions of Warcraft III. The participating teams of 16th season of the WC3L have been announced. Check them out here.

StarCraft
Check out the exciting tournament replays from BlizzCon 2009 at the BlizzCon tournament page. In other news the the Ukranian Protoss player White-Ra wins the 21st edition of the ZOTAC-Cup by beating last weeks champion Fenix 3 – 0. In addition the Russian based clan RoX advances to the finals of the Titans League where they will meet the German based clan Templars of Twilight.

In last week's poll, we asked about the amount of AddOns that players use. This week is somewhat of a related follow-up poll. As we have seen, there are some players who use a whole load of AddOns, and there are some that don't use any at all. The question this time is simple: What do you think of the availability of AddOns?

This week on the WoW Europe Community forums:

Are you insane in the membrane? Are you Grand Marshal or High Warlord of your faction? Are you known to some as the Arena Master? Do you have what it takes to gather pets from the world over? Come and tell us the about the achievement you're most proud of!

A world changing event is coming, and it's going to be cataclysmic. This is geared more for the role-players amongst us; how will the events of the cataclysm affect you and your guild?

Sfhwoaagh (we're not sure how to pronounce that one) has asked the community two questions; one being where in the World of Warcraft would you live, and conversely, where would you choose to holiday?

On a similar theme to the questions above, let us know where your favourite AFK spot is in the World of Warcraft? Can we find you stood on the Orgrimmar Bank, or atop the Stormwind fountain? Let us know!

Guides, guides and guides!

Every week we publish a list of cool events being arranged by the community. If you want to create an event, but aren't sure how to present it on the forums, Zhinsa has written a great guide on how to do just that!

Taurens come in all shapes and sizes! Well, two to be precise, but their personalities and traits are widely varying. For information on role playing a Tauren, check out this thread!

Skerri of Lightbringer has come to help the fresh meat on the fields of battle, and prepared this handy guide on Battlegrounds for Beginners.

Ready your wands! Say your prayers! It's time for Urions priest PvP guide!

A common question in the professions is 'Which professions do I need?' and Zylathas has written this great guide on how to answer that question.

Mages! Don't despair, Xacez of Ragnaros has written a guide that's all about you guys!

Tanking is less about shooting massive rounds from across the battlefield, but standing at the forefront and taking the beating of your life. Sounds scary, right? Well don't worry because Drarak has written a handy guide on Tanking.

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

World of Warcraft
eMazing Gaming has taken home the top prize from the MLG tour stop in Dallas, scooping up $9,000 after toppling x6tence of Spain in a 6-1 Grand Final. 2nd place went to x6tence, and 3rd place was taken by the North American team Complexity. In other World of Warcraft news, Ensidia has shown aAa their determination in the Intel Extreme Masters Supercup at Gamescom in what was an intense and nail biting final.

WarCraft III
Just when you think you couldn't get more heat in the WCIII e-sport scene, Grubby goes and raises the bar by proposing to his long-term girlfriend Cassandra right in-front of the cameras at BlizzCon. Their beaming smiles indicate that only good things came from the proposal! GG Grubby!

We have more details on the Intel Extreme Masters Global challenge to be held in Chengdu, China! That's right, a total of $65,000 is up for grabs, and we're pleased to see both WarCraft III and DotA to be on the schedule. Keep your diary free October 1st through to 3rd to see the best teams from the globe over fight for a slice of the prize! Lastly, it's time to pit the old school against the new school. The ShadowLeague tournament entitled the 'Trophy of Legends' is seeing old school stars like Insomnia, Tak3r, ShowTime, Spell and ElakeDuck for a comeback to take on 12 currently active competitors, with names being revealed over the coming days. The tournament is set to take place on the 7th of September, so stay tuned!

StarCraft
First off on the StarCraft scene this week we have an interview for you. IdrA, a Terran player whom hails from America answers questions and gives you some insight into who he is, where he has come from, and where he plans to go in the future. The Titan League is close to its final. Templars of Twilight moves on to the grand finals after beating a very tough ESC lineup with an impressive 5-1 victory. Even after stating that it would be "almost impossible to beat ESC" ToT)Mondragon( proved himself wrong, and has everything to play for when he faces the winner eXpertise vs Rox.KiS who play this coming Sunday. In addition ZOTAC Cup #19 has concluded and Terran player Fenix from Peru displayed great skills, beating Strelok, the Terran player from Ukraine in an impressive 3-1 final, scooping up a €100 prize.

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fan sites:

World of War has some interesting news available, one about ToC Jousting, one about Hodir Rep Commendations, one about DragonCon 2009's Lore of Warcraft panel, and much more!

World of ComicCraft:

Kidiriel has given me a lot to re-assess.

You're naked!

What? Am I inside Yogg-Saron's brain?

A ninja?! Really? I don't need all of this?

A price steak!

The tummy goes "clink, clink?"

Other Stuff:

Pimp my UI episode 101!

This week's Friday Thread has been posted and helps you find some cool music of choice!

Have a fantastic weekend, everybody!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Grellin stood at the Dalaran fountain, watching the eager fisherman cast their lines. He was never much of a fisherman. The fear of getting a big catch and being dragged into the water frightened the little gnome greatly as swimming was certainly not his forte. As he watched, he realised that time was passing much slower than usual. Previous weeks had been filled with some amazing events that he had attended. Some were crazy events, like naked gnomish races (now that certainly was his forte) and all other manner of festivals and markets. Grellin wondered if anything was coming up that he would be interested in attending this week!

He began to make his way to the events board. Weaving his way through the hustle and bustle of the Dalaran streets, Grellin he took his diary from a pocket in his robes, and flicked to the calendar. Pencilled in already were a couple of noteworthy events he would certainly be attending, and he looked forward to adding more to his schedule.

The gnome approached the billboard. It looked different to usual... more barren than before. He saw some old fliers posted, and then glanced at his diary. In disappointment, he realised he already had them on his 'to do' list, and whilst the events were greatly anticipated, he couldn't help but think to himself...

"I wish there were more..."

If you have do have any in-game events you'd like to bring to the Community's attention, please be sure post up the details of the event the Community News & Events forum.

The Arena Tournament Realm is now offline with the conclusion of the 2009 World of Warcraft Arena Tournament. The realm will be offline until the start of the next Arena Tournament season. We want to thank everyone who participated in or followed this year's tournament and welcome you all to return next year!

This week on the WoW Europe Community forums:

Pimp My UI episode 101 is out for all you user interface enthusiasts to enjoy!

World of Warcraft Nederland, the Fansite, has this thread informing everyone that they have redesigned their website!

So, whenever expansions and patches are announced, people start speculating. What, in your opinion, was the funniest rumour before WotLK?

What was your first special mount?

Guides, guides and... guide!

So, you are a Priests and you would like to PvP? Check out this Priest PvP Guide!

So you have just levelled up, and might find yourself asking this question: Which profession(s) do I need?

If you have some class advice to share, or a guide to advertise, then let us know by visiting the class forums and bringing it to our attention in the Guides & Useful Links sticky threads!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

We have not one, but two new polls in the forums this week!

Following the recent announcement of our third World of Warcraft expansion, Cataclysm, it is natural that we see that players are excited about the new features. For some, an expansion is all about new zones to explore while for others it may be all about the new races, or the new raids and dungeons. Opinions are plentiful, and now we would like to hear yours: What feature of Cataclysm are you currently most excited about?

Interface customisation is a WoW feature that many have delved into or experienced at some point. It is not uncommon that we see forum threads titled "post your UI!" or something similar. We have seen players create some very impressive interface layouts and designs, and have also seen that some players prefer to play with as few addons as possible, sometimes even none at all. Whatever your preference, we would like to know: how many addons do you play with?

Fan sites:

World of War has lots of articles up on BlizzCon 2009, Including a video of Grunty the Marine Murloc Pet!

Wow.multiplayer.it has some nice updates about the Blizzcon panels localised in Italian!

Curse shows off the human to worgen transformation!

World of ComicCraft:

This is going to take manual skill!

Is that all you got?

Veron Rockhoof?!?

I call this Keyboard turner kabobs!

Random filler time?!

Judgement of Lightning?

Other Stuff:

Pimp My UI episode 100!

This week's Friday Thread has been posted, and has recipes for all your potential goodies right there!

Have a great weekend, everybody!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Torm Lorluf, retired fishertroll extraordinaire, was busy dusting off his lucky fishing hat, and oiling his reel. Only that morning had a flier glided through his window like a message from up high, announcing a fishing contest out on the shores of Durotar. Perhaps a little friendly competition would rekindle his interest in fishing once more. He missed the overwhelming peace of the waves crashing on the sandy beaches, the sound of the crabs skittering across the shingle and not to forget the immense satisfaction of landing a prize fish.

There was only a matter of hours before the competition begins. Torm was ready to bring home the prize and show the trolls of Sen'Jin who was the top fishertroll by winning the Durtoar Feeshing Expoganza!

This week on the WoW Europe Community forums:

Pimp My UI reaches a landmark stage. This week Xeno brings you episode 100, and with it not one, but TWO new sections. We also welcome the comical and informative podcast to the PMUI feature. Be sure to stop by and check out this bumper edition of Pimp My UI.

There is nothing more relaxing than a spot of fishing, plucking fresh fish from the lakes and rivers of Azeroth. Northaunt of Silvermoon asks us what our favorite or most serene fishing spot is.

Dreams come in all shapes and sizes. Some of dream of riches, others dream of fame. Some dream of terror and others dream of adventures. Dreams can be about anything. We want to hear about your dreams involving the World of Warcraft. Dreams of PvP triumphs, or perhaps of the illusive Time-Lost Proto-Drake; the only limiting factor is that of your unconscious mind!

Guides, guides and... guides!

Apollya from the Argent Dawn has updated her guide on Protection Paladins for 3.2 and in the process of updating even more to include newly available loots for all Protection Paladins to be aware of.

Warriors who plan on levelling as protection will certainly benefit from this guide about how to level as a prot warrior, written by Piña of Shadowsong.

If you have some class advice to share, or a guide to advertise, then let us know by visiting the class forums and bringing it to our attention in the Guides & Useful Links sticky threads!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fan sites:

World of War has landed at BlizzCon and has some pictures to share with you guys. Not only that, but they have veritable fountain of BlizzCon information on their homepage, lots and lots of great reads and pieces of information, including the European schedule for BlizzCon, giving you all the information you need to help you watch your live stream!

TheBurningCrusade.pl has opened a new section about the in-game events that occur within the World of Warcraft, currently Brewfest and the Harvest Festival. These are accompanied by two subtitled videos about the events, which can be seen here. And do not to forget, TheBurningCrusade will be bringing you minute-after-minute BlizzCon coverage, starting from 20:00 CEST!

World of ComicCraft:

...explain about the discombobulator-thingy...

FWIIISSH!

SQUEAK!

Errrr... why is he naked?

They call him... Hogger.

Why all the gnome hate?

"They Mock Me."

Other Stuff:

So BlizzCon is kicking off tonight, and we would love to know what panel you're looking forward to the most!

This one is so cool, it deserved a bump! Baron Soosdon's latest trailer is live and on the air. Be prepared to delve into a new world... the World of Gnomecraft!

This week's Friday Thread has been posted, and in there has appeared some unusual and sneaky blues all the way from another board...

Have a BlizzConic weekend, everybody!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Sir Lawrence Bucwild, excavator and archaeologist of sorts, was rushing down the stairs from his house in Stormwind City. Just behind him was his assistant, Brooly Corsto, following in an indigenous manner seen only in those who graduated the T. Roll Institute. “I do say, old chap..”, Bucwild exclaimed as he opened the front door to his house. “… today will be quite the marvellous find!”. Brooly facepalmed as he let out a sigh. “Lawrence..”, he said, “you really need to learn to play your role better!”.

Sir Lawrence Bucwild, the extravagant excavator and archaeologist of sorts, sighed and nodded. “You're right, of course”. He knew that the cliché appearance of a monocle wearing old geezer did not suit him well. He was, after all, a Night Elf. In reality, Lawrence Bucwild was not an extravagant excavator nor an archaeologist of sorts, but enjoyed putting on that role when returning to the warming bosom of Darnassus. Today, though, they were not headed to Darnassus, but rather to the dangerous wildlife and jungle known as the Stranglethorn Vale.

It was by invitation of High Explorer T. Silverthorn and his assistant Fiblerod that they had planned this journey. Just for once, Bucwild had thought, I will be an actual excavator – not of sorts, but of reality.

So it's time to kick back, pull up a bar stool and order a refreshing beverage. From all over Azeroth (and beyond), Innkeepers offer a plethora of tipples for your virtual consumption; as well as various juices, like those from moonberries or melons. What we want to know is which neutral tavern is your first stop shop for ice cold refreshment? Your home away from home? Your sousing sanctuary! Tell us all about it in this week's poll!

Poll of the week:
Which neutral tavern would you call your home away from home?

This week on the WoW Europe Community forums:

Pimp My UI returns once more, and episode 99 is a real dazzler. Xenoronin covers many topics this week, and we're excited that this week's episode features a new interview with AddOn author Jiminizer, as well as the regular coverage of hot AddOns (this week featuring hunter mods), UI of the week and much more!

Xenoronin continues to provide excellent information, and has an up-to-date thread on the interfacial issues you might be experiencing post 3.2 and how to solve them.

Once upon a time it was rare to stumble across a female dwarf rogue. Perhaps they were very good at... stealthing around, but it seems they're becoming the new night elf hunter! Have you noticed a shift in class/race combinations? Have you seen an influx in female taurens recently? Share your experiences with us!

Olejohnny stopped by this week to say 'hi' to the forum! Come and say hi, and share with us, and of course Olejohnny, some words of wisdom.

Guides, guides and... guide!

Lissia of Dragonblight has written a great guide on getting from the level cap into a raid dungeon. She shares her experiences and the lessons she learned when preparing, and hopes they will benefit the freshly dinged level 80s go from dailies to dungeoneering as efficiently as possible.

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fan sites:

World of War are gathering questions for the developers at Blizzcon!

World of ComicCraft:

She's a big girl, she'll get over it!

Science is hard!

Enter Trevor, the Death Knight!

Nothing like a lazily written plot device that magically resolves all story lines!

A scarecrow isn't a crow at all!

Gnomish treats?

Other Stuff:

Come check out Baron Soosdon's latest trailer… World of Gnomecraft!

And last but not least; this week's Friday Thread has been posted, so come on in and join us for a chat and share your plans for the weekend

Have a glorious weekend everybody!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

The time has come for the little people of Azeroth to display their bravery and endurance in a massive demonstration of strength and speed, which most surely will impress both the Alliance and the Horde!

The time has come for the Great Gnome Run, which is a race of epic proportions. All participants will be Gnomes and all will be fully prepared and trained to run faster than the rest. Some will use science to get an advantage, others will use pure strength and willpower to get ahead, and then there will probably be some who are naked and greased up in hopes to reduce wind resistance. Hair and moustaches will be trimmed for speed and tiny legs will move so fast that any image taken of them will show naught but the blurry motion of feet.

If you wish to participate in this Great Gnome Run, be it as a runner or as audience, then have a look here for more information.

Poll of the week:
Where would you go for your beach vacation?

This week on the WoW Europe Community forums:

Security Alert: A critical Flash update has recently been released, so be sure to update your Flash Player ASAP!

Sooner or later the time will come for you and your friends to enter Icecrown Citadel and dish out pain to the horrors that await you there, but what will those horrors be?

A number of guilds are banding together and dabbling in a little nostalgia, grouping together level 60 characters in order to vanquish the perils of old. If this is something you're interested in, then be sure to check out the Vanilla Pages, dedicated to listing level 60 Horde guilds.

Guides, guides and guides!

Adventurers come in many shapes and sizes, and embark on journeys into places they cannot vanquish alone. Some people do this with guild mates, or friends, and others choose to recruit members to their cause by approaching denizens of the various cities in the world. This handy guide caters for the latter, and helps budding group leaders run a pick up group.

The Realm of Argent Dawn has its fair share of high brow folk stood in the cities. Hieronimo of the Kindred Spirits has provided us all with a guide on how to play a Noble character within the World of Warcraft.

Mages far and wide rejoice this fine day, as Noziv has written a lovely guide to help freshly dinged mages with their rotations in preparation for raiding.

Wintergrasp! The endless battle for control of the area continues, and Daimaiz of Talnivarr has written up some battle plans to help budding commanders keep control of the fortress when it is in their control.

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Summer brings with it vacation season! Everyone is either cheerfully energised after returning from a holiday, or they're about to set off on a trip of their own. There's so many popular activities people like to do on holiday, but almost everyone loves to visit the beach! There's lots of interesting places in Azeroth, with a wide range of flora and fauna. So with that in mind, we're curious! Where in Azeroth would you go for your beach vacation?

Fan sites:

The Burning Crusade.pl has posted a Polish subtitled version of the Patch 3.2 trailer. Also, they have announced their coverage plans for BlizzCon 09 together with some speculations of what might be announced at the event.

World of Warcraft Hungary continues to review addons, this week it is the Talented addon. They also continue their article series of the great wars, the latest one is about the Second War.

WoW i Danmark has gone on an addon reviewing frenxy as well - learn more about SpamageMeters and Deadly Bossmode and Atlasloot Enchaned.

WoW-TR is informing us of a hot August via the Gnomeregan News Center.

World of ComicCraft:

Cattaclysmic of Quel'Thalas has posted her first attempt at a WoW comic: Cattaclysmic Events.

Turning on your friends, being rude and careless is over the line.

Richard – The Mistress of Magma.

Arthas' minion will dispose of them for sure.

NPCs do not stab people in the face.

Let them flee… they're not worth it.

Flintlocke has got to be the worst Warrior ever.

Damn! The little bastard got away!

How to make some gold in a good way?!?

Other Stuff:

Herculean Productions has just finished their 7^th wow film – The Chronicles of Leeroy episode 7 – The Hunter's Mark.

Also, Check out KrižoWoW, which is a youtube channel containing WoW Guides, blogs and more.

We simply had to post this one as well: Thorim - The techno remix.

Oldcrafty.com, a growing blog on multiple WoW-related topics, is looking for more people to join in on the fun.

And last but not least; this week's Friday Thread has been posted, so come on in and join us for a chat and share your plans for the weekend.

Have a glorious weekend everybody!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Arcanist Janeda was stood in the Sanctum of the Sun, informing any adventurer that passed by to go and visit the Apothecary in Tranquillien, in order to help the local efforts in freeing prisoners from Deatholme. Today had been a quiet day for her. She had seen many folk walk by, but they were not dressed as adventurers and they certainly didn't look like they had the time spare to help with her quest to free the captive locals from the Scourge. The passersby we're all transporting various goods; some appeared to be fine ales and wines, as well as varying sized boxes all clearly stamped in red ink with the words 'Keep away from open flames'. Other goods were also being ferried past the Sanctum to the east, but she could not work out what they were. As the day began to turn into evening, she became more curious as to what was happening east of the Sanctum. She knew Zul'Aman was there, but these folks appeared completely unequipped to handle the perils that would await them on the other side of the gates.

The stream of people had not stopped for the past few hours, and people of all races had walked by and they all sounded very excited. She turned to Magister Idonis whom was stood beside her.

'Magister, who are these people, and have you any idea what is going on?' she asked. 'I've no idea, Janeda, but should your curiosity become unbearable, I will join you in seeing what all the fuss is about.' He replied.

With that Jadena grabbed Idonis' arm and walked towards the path to join the crowds whom were heading towards Zul'Aman. Up ahead in the distance they could see various hues of illumination breaking throw the gaps in the trees. She could see some of the folk around her were holding brightly coloured flyers, and asked the smartly dressed lady walking beside her 'May I read this?' She was handed the flyer without hesitation, and began to read.

'You are hereby invited to join us at a dazzling and spectacular Firework and Dance show – All are invited -- Join us at the gates of Zul'Aman!'

This week on the WoW Europe Community forums:

Security Alert: A critical Flash update has recently been released, so be sure to update your Flash Player ASAP!

Xenoronin has posted episode ninety eight of Pimp My UI. This week you can find a great collection of Warlock Mods and addons that can help you with a multitude of tasks and needs. This, as well as the featured UI and macro of the week, is all up for grabs in the Interface Customisation forum.

Schwick has updated the Warcraft's Book Archive, so check it out if you need information about (World of) Warcraft books as well as details such as ISBN number, title, publisher, etc.

If you are new to the game and would like some help, you might wish to have a look at this list of people willing to offer a helping hand to the new folks beginning the adventures.

Are you a Champion of the Alliance or a Hero of the Horde? Why did you pick your faction?

Random acts of Kindness – share your experiences of things you have done, or other people have done for you, that were nice and on a whim.

And now for something slightly off-topic: How to arm yourself against mosquitoes?

Guides, guides and guides!

Mages who seek advice on how to level efficiently should find this thread very useful. Here you can find levelling tips and advice a plenty.

Shamans, who seek information on how to properly heal while levelling and raiding, should probably take a look at this helpful guide

The WotLK Hunter FAQ may very well be what you need if you are new to the Hunter class and looking for some tips and advice.

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fan Sites:
WorldofWar.net has started a Blizzcon 2009 - Make-A-Wish thread, where you can name a developer or CM, and a feature-circus-like game you would want them to participate in.

WoW i Danmark informs us that NordiskLAN has been postponed to a later time this year. This is of course a pity, but the good news is that you will now have more time to plan and sign up.

World of Warcraft Hungary treats us with several updates this week, amongst them a review of the Castbars addon. They also have an article that summarizes the lore of the three major wars that we learned about in the Warcraft RTS games.

The Burning Crusade.pl have expanded upon and improved their Dungeons section. It now holds more information than it did before and it covers all of the dungeons currently found in WotLK.

WoW-TR has its own facebook page called WoW-love, where Turkish players meet and socialize. They have 330 members so far, which makes it a good place to go if are looking for new friends and you speak Turkish.

World of ComicCraft
OK, I’m fine. Let’s do this!

Magma is a funny word... Magma.

It is time to reawaken its lust for blood!

I love you, Marmalade!

Are you alright now, Miss Foonmall?

Look, there they are!

By the Earthmother, its hot today...

You call that evil?

Other Stuff:
This week’s Friday Thread is up, and it’s a wall of text this week. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to stop on by answer this week’s hottest questions posed by our resident Gorloc.

Over on the roleplaying forum, Thygore has posted up a link to a Mary Sue test to see just how overly idealised and hackneyed your characters mannerisms are. Of course the test has margins of error and should not be taken entirely seriously, but do stop by the thread to share and discuss the results of your test!

Shadowghoul has gone airborne this week also, and posted a video we just cannot help but giggle to whilst watching. It’s like sky diving, only with less diving, and more duelling!

Nordrassil Radio has gone live, with the best shout-outs this side of Azeroth, be sure to tune in and check it out!

Ruthler of Saurfang has put out a one off special of the MidLIfe Gamer Podcast called ‘Why we WoW’. It’s an interesting listen, and can be downloaded or streamed at your leisure.

Best of weekends everyone!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

King Magni was known to the Alliance as a fair, kind, and giving King. Braveness, partnered with compassion and honor are some of the things that make a King notable in history. As he sat in the Throne room of Ironforge, with members of the Mithril Guard stood beside him, he knew it was time to bear witness to the coronation of a new Thane amongst the Guard. As the retirement of one legend comes to pass, another must step up and take their place as the highest ranking member of the Mithril Guard.

A crowd had come to witness this event, with fine ales and food at hand. The noise of the crowd showed the great anticipation of what was about to happen; the Coronation of a new Thane would surely be a memorable moment in the history of Ironforge.

A figure appeared at the door to the throne room, engulfed in the shadows cast by the large stone doorway, and silence skipped across the crowd like the breeze would across a field of fine hops. Grov stepped forward from the shadows into the throne room, lit only by the brightly burning torches, and the Mirthril Guard stood to attention. The time had come. Grov’s moment of great honor had arrived. The Coronation had begun.

Poll of the week:

Which form do you think has the best dance moves?

This week on the WoW Europe Community forums:

Xenoronin has returned! This week he brings us episode ninety seven of Pimp My UI, and with it a great collection of Druid Mods and addons to help you with tasks like damage output management to cooldown tracking and so much more. This, as well as the featured UI and macro of the week, is all up for grabs in the Interface Customisation forum.

As per usual, the guys and girls of the forums have been asking some interesting questions. Pavo of Balnazzar asks us ‘Where in Azeroth do you live?’. That is to say, what zone looks most like the area you live in? Do you live in a rural marshy area akin to the Wetlands? Perhaps you live in the woodlands, somewhere similar to Grizzly Hills? Perhaps a build up urban area much like Stormwind? Let us know!

We’ve had another question this week, this time on the subject of Battlegrounds. Which Battlegrounds do you like and dislike the most, and do be sure to tell us why!

Last for this week, but certainly not least, Phyx has asked us ‘when did our characters look their best?’ Was it back when you were decked out in Tier 2? Or perhaps wearing some of the world event garb that’s been up on offer? Do you find the liberation of streaking through Orgrimmar in nothing but a manacle and diamond tipped cane to be your moment of outstanding beauty? Stop on by and inform us!

Guides, guides and guides!

Omegasupreme has had an <Epiphany> over on Twighlight’s Hammer, and written up a great levelling spec guide for mages, only this time it comes with added fire!

So, inspired by Targrash, and reborn into something more trollen, Ganjola of Sporeggar brings us the guide to roleplaying a troll.

Whilst on the subject of roleplay guides, <The Cenarion Guardians> have united together to bring us a guide that covers the ins and outs of roleplaying a Night Elf.

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Cats, Bears, Trees, Ghost Wolves and even Moonkin all have this adept sense of rhythm and, given the opportunity, will perform some quite clever and intricate dance moves for one’s viewing pleasure. The question this time, not very unlike some of our previous polls, is simple. Which form has the best dance moves that really makes you want to shake and twist, perhaps even swing around, in tune to your favourite music?

Fan Sites:
WorldofWar.net has tons of updates this week. Amongst them you can read about Bruce Campbell and Metzen Talking to the Media about the Warcraft movie. You can learn more about the two new pop culture additions to the WoW: TCG, as well as the upcoming Action Figures from DC Unlimited. You can also read Medievaldragon’s speculations on the Emerald Dream and who is disturbing the sleep.

WoWJuju has opened a new poll where you can vote on the best Fanart of June.

WoW i Danmark is preparing for NordiskLAN, which is a new LAN party in Denmark. You can also find a new song from GiGi on this site.

World of Warcraft Hungary has posted a review of the Ghost Pulse 3 addon as well as a portrait of Archdruid Fandral Staghelm, who is the current leader of the Cenarion Circle

World of ComicCraft
Soon the Dragon Queen will silence the call of Malygos.

The sentries were killed and the diggers are now inside.

Once a cat starts to like you, there is no way of getting it off your back.

Beware… The Kobolds are plotting and scheming

Leaving the city may not always be a simple matter.

Flintlocke has got to be the worst Warrior ever.

She is a psychotic, but efficient Paladin.

Yogg’s being a bitch.

Other Stuff:
This week’s Friday Thread is up, which can be used for discussing ones weekend plans, as well as debating various subjects on both astronomic and natural occurrences.

The Chronicles of Leeroy Episode 7 - The Hunter's Mark has now been released… Simply a must watch!

Here is a quite amusing and cute piece of WoW machinima from China. It is very possible that you may not understand Chinese, but it is very much worth the watch nonetheless.

Last but not least; Ced’s World PvP movie.

Have a magnificent weekend everybody!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Things look grim in Hellfire Peninsula. The remnants of the Burning Legion are regaining their foothold in the region, and they are now pressing onwards towards the dark portal with greater strength than what has been seen in a long time. The defenders of Azeroth are standing fast for now, but the brutal onslaught from the Legion combined with lack of supplies and reinforcements are having their toll… The constant battles are tiring and low morale is causing old animosities between the Horde and the Alliance to flare up one more.

The situation in Outland is dire and the Draenai Elders of the Aldor Rise in Shattrath City knows this… the question is if Azeroth knows this also? They have sent an envoy through the Dark Portal to ask for help, but it seems little aid is to be had. The Alliance and Horde forces in Azeroth are all being deployed in the war up north, and since there are precious few resources that can be spared for use elsewhere, the envoy from Outland are calling for volunteers.

Poll of the week:

What is the Call of the Crusade's most appealing feature?

This week on the WoW Europe Community forums:

We all started off at level one; standing there daunted, mesmerised and enveloped in the wonder in our respective starting areas once upon a time. Sometimes it’s nice to have some friendly advice from local folk, we believe! So does Leilana from Emerald Dream, and she has undergone the task of compiling a list of people willing to offer a helping hand to the new folks entering the adventures. Come and check out the listings on the Newcomers Forum!

The subject of PvP movies has arisen once more. This time the question being asked is ‘ What’s your favourite PvP movie?’ Share with us your favourite moments from PvP movie history!

Revuu of The Sha’tar has collected some interesting information on Draenei lore. A good read for all squid-bearded space goats. In fact, it’s a good read for everyone!

Guides, guides and guides!

And this week it’s simply Guide-Tastic!

Do you find yourself lost in a world of new experiences once you have just dinged 80? Where do you start? What do you do? Well, Healinghelga of Bladefist comes to you with an awesome guide on what to do as a first time level 80.

Dreamwarden, also from Bladefist, has made the Big Moonkin PVP Guide; A Master Class in Laser Chicken, right at your fingertips!

Ellinas of Azjol-Nerub has set himself the task of making a Guide for Affliction Warlocks. The work has paid off, and you can read all about it!

Prot-a-dins rejoice! Apollya has provided us with this ‘How To’ guide on the subject of Protection Paladins.

One thing we can all sympathise with is the poor soul setting up healing assignments in raids. Shiria of Lightbringer has come forward to share some insider secrets from her guild outlining how they handle such a task!

Do you think you have what it takes to write a guide for your class? Well, stop by the individual class forums to the Guides & Useful Links stickies and let us know about your guide!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Over the past few weeks we've thrown a ton of information at you regarding the ‘Call of the Crusade'. If you feel you've missed anything, and want to know more, then be sure to check here.

If you consider yourself a 3.2 aficionado, then you must have an idea of what it is that's tickling your talbuk. Are you looking forward to hitting the fast lane sooner with the mount changes? Does the thought of going face to face with your foes in a thrilling new PvP Battleground get your adrenal glands going? How about the new battles (and loot) that await you in the newly built Crusaders Coliseum? That's just to name a handful of changes that are coming our way. Tell us which feature it is you're most looking forward to, and be sure to share your thoughts with us to by voting in this week's poll!

Fan Sites:
WorldOfWar.net continues to provide us with some interesting articles, and we strongly recommend visiting them since they often have articles no other fansite thinks about creating! That's right, original articles and not just copy paste from our forums! Check out the site's very own Maticus as she passionately debunks the idea that WoW is somehow killing itself. They've also been keeping us all updated with their speculation on upcoming content for World of Warcraft, but also with some great lore related information too. Check out a couple of their latest lore articles: Journey into the Stars & South Seas Lore: The Maelstrom Awaits? – could they be onto something or is it just hyped speculation? You decide!

TheBurningCrusade.pl has some new exciting features this week. They've implemented a new calendar feature on their main page which displays monthly events and battleground holidays with a shiny tooltip interface. That coupled with their new PvE and PvP dedicated forums are some of the big changes going on there. They've also published an article on the Strand of the Ancients, Lake Wintergrasp, and the Inscription profession! Be sure to check them out!

World of ComicCraft
Uhhh... Should it be glowing like that?

I didn't think you would be pleased with our decision.

Those murlocs have some explaining to do!

Hope we've not kept you waiting.

Go away. Busy.

Other Stuff:
This is too good not to be bumped! This ever so awesome Machinima by Dtbn, titled: 'The Avenger,' brings you an awesome (yet Lorelol) tale set within the Warcraft universe. It's truly an amazing piece.

Don't forget we're testing patch 3.2 on the four European Public Test Realms – we've even got developers posting directly on our forum with the latest test schedule. Please be sure to take the opportunity to help us test upcoming content, if you've got a strong enough stomach for the sometimes chaotic testing process. Wondering what great new content is coming in patch 3.2, then check this page out!

Have you got some "other stuff" you'd like us to feature next week? Please be sure to contact us to let us know! Don't be shy!

We all hope you have a great weekend – be sure to go outside and enjoy the warm weather while it's still here!

"All of your efforts have been in vain, for the draining of the World Tree has already begun. Soon the heart of your world will beat no more."

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Treasure! The word alone makes ones spine tingle with hope and dreams of glory and fortune, but alas, treasure hunting is not for regular folk like the measly peon of Durotar or the youngling hunter of Mulgore. No, treasure hunting is only for the strongest and most resourceful of adventurers. Who else than those who venture out to dangerous places to face countless enemies and monsters may be privileged with the fortune of finding treasure and securing ones name for the future? No one, that is who… but you can have a taste! That's right, you heard me… you can have a taste of fortune and glory!

You might ask how, well I will tell you how. Stay a while and listen. Soon a treasure hunt will take place, albeit a slightly different kind than the ones from all the songs and stories. This treasure hunt is a competition and it has been made for the average folk of the Horde, like you and me, who seeks to know what it is really like to be a part of an adventure, to get a taste of the life of a hero… and of course also to get a taste of the rewards of a hero.

This treasure hunt will be perfectly safe, well it is at least for the most part. It involves following clues and answering riddles. You will have to race and outwit other teams, but if you are the best and the fastest, the glory and the treasure is yours for the taking.

But you must hurry now… it will soon be too late to sign up.

Bags. Some use them for herbs, some to hide their dubious clothing, and others use them to carry their explosives. Fishermen might have filled them with their catch of the day, bringing to the marketplace some tasty Savory Deviate Delight! They come in many sizes and we see many different types of bag obtained, traded, or sold every day. As heroic and brave adventurers have ventured further into the Outlands and Northrend, the size of their bags (and sense of pride!) has increased. For some, it was the Primal Mooncloth Bag that caught their attention. For others, perhaps the Frostweave Bag. Some may even have skipped this particular size in favour of the expensive "Gigantique" Bag. Whichever the preference in Sacks, Bags, Satchels, or Pouches, we would like to hear it straight up: Which 20 slot bag did you acquire first?

Poll Of The Week: Which 20 slot bag did you acquire first?

This week on the WoW-Europe Forums:
We have all tried it, running the same dungeon again and again for that one item that just doesn't seem to drop… frustrating!!! Which items have eluded you the most?

There are quite a lot of lore characters in Warcraft, but not all of them have spent much time in the limelight. Which lore characters would you like to see more of in WoW?

Try to find a mirror and spend a little time studying your face and your body, and then tell us which race from the game that you look the most like in real life?

Do you know how to play a RMP arena team well? Then why not post some tips and pointers in this thread?

If you were to design the entrance to the Icecrown citadel raid dungeon, how would you do it? Would there be a massive battle event at the gates? Would it be a stealthy entrance in the back? Would there be certain requirements such as attunements?

Guides, Guides and Guides!
Well just two guides this week actually…

The Undead knows many things and they have many guides that describe the best approach for reaching ones goals. How to Roleplay a Gnome comes as a great example on Undead guidance.

And last but not least; Deepsilver of Aerie Peak has posted a very nice guide on useful add-ons for PvPers.

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fan Sites:
WorldOfWar.net brings us a barrage of great columns this week, from Lore discussions covering Zandalar Island, The Broken Isles, Plunder Isle and many more we just don't have space to list. Check out the site for more Lore articles, as well as some exciting discussions as to what the future might hold!

WoWi.dk delivers a daily dose of news for the Danes amongst us, covering all the hot topics from the World… of Warcraft, including the Argent Tournament post 3.2, news of a world first as well as much, much more.

World of ComicCraft
Why don't you share your brilliant plan?

Ayep, it's enraged all right.

Don't speak, please. Just listen.

Hani? Is it time already?

Hey look, that warlock is talking to you.

I'm thinking of switching to the Horde.

Farewell World of Zach. It's been good fun.

Other Stuff:
Ancilorn has gone Off-Topic this week and painted the forum with a splash of blue. Stop on by and share with is some Friday gusto, and let us know what your weekend has in store in this week's Friday Thread!

This is so good; we're bumping it this week. Myndflame fans rejoice as a new production can be seen on their website. You can read more about Illegal Danish 3: the Ballad of Dirti G, and watch the prelude over at the Myndflame site. Star Craft fans may see the resemblance to a certain trailer, and to compare the two, you can see them side by side here.

We have more machinima this week brought to you by Dtbn. Lore fans look away now! Machinima fans keep reading, and enjoy this simply marvellous production titled "The Avenger."

Have a great weekend, folks! :-)

"In a trail of fire I know we will be free again -- In the end we will be one."

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

The snow was falling heavily across the rocky landscapes of Dun Morogh, and Grizzix was ploughing through ice cold blanket that covered the paths as hastily as his short legs would take him, trying to keep warm. He knew at the end of his journey something amazing would await him. As he looked off to the distance, he noted how thick the precipitation must have been as he could barely make out the ridges of the Khaz Mountains that bordered Dun Morogh's southern boundaries with the violent and volcanic Gorge to the south.

Despite being Gnome, Grizzix wasn't the brightest of folks. Many tales are spoken of his various misadventures throughout Azeroth. Like the time he started a drunken fight with a squirrel... and lost, or even the time he fought bravely with a mage, of which Grizzix was 20 years his senior, and lost miserably complaining that the Frost Nova wouldn't wear off, when in fact he both is little legs were simply squeezed into the same trouser leg.

This is not to say he hadn't been victorious in many a battle. With the help of his allies he had fought of many Horde incursions on his homelands, and braved the most nefarious of enemies and come out victorious.

The Gnome chuckled to himself recalling some of the good times, as well as the bad, as he approached a junction in the path. One sign pointed towards Anvilmar: he was approaching his destination. He could hear the typical sound of a busy tavern faintly in the distance, and he steadily made his way towards it. He'd been told this place would be honouring his comrades, the Gnomes and the Dwarves, and he hoped to re-acquaint himself with some of old friends he'd met throughout his travels. It was time to raise a drink to the little guys!

Poll Of The Week: What is your favourite Alliance female dance?

This week on the WoW-Europe Forums:
What if there were 100 DKs Death Gripping someone at the same time?

What makes a good PvP player?

What kind of PvP music do you listen to?

Have you ever been killed by lowbies while AFK?

What is your favourite in-game settlement?

Guides, Guides and Guides!
Are you a Mage who likes AoE grinding? Here is a guide for you!

Looking for a Hunter enchant guide?

Here is a beginner's guide to Death Knights!

… and also a beginner's guide to levelling a Shadow Priest!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Dancing, in World of Warcraft as in real life, is a form of entertainment that puts a smile on many a keen face. In this week's poll we are once again back to the topic of dances. Whether you favour the rhythmic movements of the tall and proud Humans, or whether you prefer the cute body wiggling of the Gnomes, we invite you to come and share your thoughts with us here in the following poll: What is your favourite Alliance female dance?

Fan sites:

WoW-Serbia.com brings information and previews of the upcoming Tier 9 armor sets, so check it out and be sure to provide them with your thoughts on these sets!

WoWJuju.com brings you a landslide of information and updates they've gathered from across the board, including our recently published Warlock Q&A and details on the recently announced Faction Change service and also some tidbits on the upcoming proposed Engineering changes in 3.2.

World of ComicCraft:

What you're planning will get us all killed!

Who disturbs my Royal powdering session?

Own him! Use the Murder Button!

I'm a warrior dammit!

Other Stuff:

Someone let the Crocolisk loose on the Off-Topic forum (someone really needs to cage that fiend)! Be sure to check out this week's Friday Thread, for he has promised no Mars related stories are going to be mentioned.

Freshly baked news has come in from Myndflame! For Illegal Danish fans we bring news of a third instalment coming our way. You can read more about Illegal Danish 3: The Ballad of Dirti G, and watch the prelude over at the Myndflame site. Star Craft fans may see the resemblance to a certain trailer, and to compare the two, you can see them side by side here.

TheBurningCrusade.pl have published a short movie about the Midsummer Fire Festival, as well as an article on the subject. You can also take a look at their coverage on the 3.2 PTR patch notes so far, and join in on the analysis here.

We've been contacted by everyones favourite Baron this week. No, not Rivendare... Baron Soosdon comes forward with a new offering of machinima goodness. 'Raid Together, Die Alone 3' is complete, and features some rather nifty PvE footage from 2005 to present day. A very impressive production and well worth checking out!

Have a magnificent weekend everyone :-)

"You can hide your eyes, you can dim the lights, but they are watching! This is a new time, with a different kind, they are the future.!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Bomba, stout and proud warrior of the Tauren race, found himself curiously eyeing his potential opponents. Who were the strong ones to watch out for? He pondered this to for a while as combatants from all races of the Horde lined up to enter the contest. Daggers, clubs, axes, swords and fists; broadswords and decapitators; Bomba took in the image of the different fighter types in front of him.

To Bomba, it was easy to tell apart the different fighter types by the arsenal of their weaponry. What bothered him somewhat, though, were the magic users. Aside from different coloured garments and some style differences, it was a much harder thing to tell what they were capable of and what to look out for. The Magicians, for example….. were they the fire type, frost type or the arcane type? Bomba shrugged as he let out a loud sigh. Not that it mattered much; he would simply cleave their skulls before they got a chance to do much of anything. At least, that was the plan.

In front of Bomba was his friend, Lyricisia. She was a druid, the feral type. "How ironic!", Bomba muttered calmly to himself… "A catty personality specialising in cat-fighting". He nourished the thought for a few, then decided to ask her: "So then, are you ready to wreak some havoc?"

Poll Of The Week: What is your favorite Horde female dance?

2009 Regional Finals Forum Coverage

• Regional Finals Index Thread
• Regional Finals Coverage - Friday
• Regional Finals Coverage - Saturday
• Regional Finals Coverage - Sunday

This week on the WoW-Europe Forums:
Opinions are plentiful on the forums. What is your favorite in-game settlement?

This week, Xenoronin brings us Pimp my UI episode ninety-five!

In regards to Arthas' fate, how would you want it to end?

Guides, Guides and Guides!

Do you want to make levelling more fun?

Holy Paladins, gather around for this 3.1 guide to the holy spec!

Wondering how to get started on raids? Look no further!

...or perhaps you're wondering how to get started with PvP?

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fan sites:

WorldofWar.net, always very quick to keep fans informed, have some cool stuff on their site this weeks– just like every week! Check out their new Ravasaur Mount Guide and New Druid Forms video based on the current patch 3.2 PTR content. Definitely worth a look, especially if you're not yet able to visit the PTR realm yourself! They're also deep into speculating about Icecrown Citadel – are you as curious as they are?

World of ComicCraft:

Don't fwoosh me, bro.

Finally, my greatest work! Completed!

Do you know what time it is? Invention time!

Oh, look! It's captain complain!

Egah! A ghost!

Hey boss, there's another raid groups incoming...

Other Stuff:

Herculean Productions have informed us that Episode 6 of the Chronicles of Leeroy has been released! This episode is "Stranglegank Vale" – the party ventures into Stranglethorn Vale and meet up with Celeste, a level 1 ALLIANCE Mage! What on Azeroth will happen next? You just have to check it out to see - very heartily recommended.

Come and watch Evilseedid multibox 4 Hunters and a Priest! Can apparently be quite entertaining.

Imagine Stratholme, but with completely different sounds and music! No need, listen and watch it here. Come along and drop your feedback here in the forums.

Havesa magnificent weekend everyone :-)

"Still,the Scythe of Elune was surely granted to her as a boon by our goddess, and it is unsettling to me that it has fallen out of her servants' hands.

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

As the 2009 Warcraft Regional Finals approach, we are excited to announce that the tournament will be streamed live* on the official Regional Finals homepage (starting at 14:00 CEST on Friday June 26th through to Sunday June 28th). You'll be able to follow the thrilling competition by watching the event live and shoutcasted by Rob Simpson from the Blizzard eSports team and three special guests from the ESL: Stuart "TosspoT" Saw and Daniel "LilLD.C" Claesson for Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, and James "2GD" Harding for World of Warcraft Arena.

We will also be offering live coverage throughout the event, including news reports, articles and live updates from the Forums. Visit the Regional Finals website for more information!

*In order to view the action, you may need to install the Octoshape Flash plugin. After installing, you may need to restart your browser.

The Apothecaries of the Royal Apothecary Society have been invited to a gathering of various leaders and dignitaries of the Horde, where they have been requested to share their analysis of a new strain of the Scourge Plague.

Master Apothecary Faranell steps forward and everybody in attendance at the gathering immediately quiets down. He slowly turns his head from left to right, staring intensely at everyone, one by one, until all who are present are both tense and showing undivided attention. He then begins to speak in a voice from beyond the grave:

"The frontlines may have been pushed back in our favour, but the Scourge is far from defeated! The scourge is a very powerful and deadly enemy, which feeds and gains in strength from our fallen ones. Its ability to infiltrate even the safest of our settlements to refill their ranks is even more... concerning."

Master Faranell slowly moves to the other end of the chamber where there are several cages containing specimens of more or less living Orcs, one more deteriorated and rotten than the next. He focuses his attention on the specimens and continues to speak:

"This new plague is quite ingeniously fiendish... and quite potent as well. I would recommend that you do not move any closer unless you seek to become one of them!"

He quickly turns around and stares intensely at everybody in the room who was nearing the cages for a better look. Once they have stepped back, master Faranell turns his attention back on the specimens and begins to share his findings:

"This plague has several stages, where the last one is when the victim will be completely beyond saving!

The 1st stage is when the victim becomes infected, often by coming in touch with any bodily fluid from another infected, be it sweat, blood, tears, and so forth. During this stage the plague is quite dormant and hard to detect, since victims are often completely unaware that they are infected. At this point however, victims may feel more tired or weaker than usual.

The 2nd stage is when the outbreak happens and the victim is crippled by fever and fatique. It is usually during stage 2 that the plague is discovered, and then it is often too late to make attempts of quarantine. During stage 2, the victim will lose the body's fat reserves; the victim will sweat and cough profusely and may also bleed from multiple orifices such as the mouth, nose and ears.

The 3rd stage is when the victim starts to turn. At this point the victim goes insane or feral, and communication will no longer be possible. The victim's flesh will show signs of decay and rot, muscles and internal organs will have deteriorated and the skin will often be covered in boils. It is in this stage that signs of life will disappear and the body will become cold as a corpse.

The 4th stage is when the victim has turned and has become reanimated into a ghoul, or in more rare cases, a plague spreader.

This plague is different, as conventional means of healing will not cure the victims, but only delay their suffering. A well treated victim will eventually turn, albeit slower than if untreated. Healers that are normally immune to diseases are not immune to this plague, and although we are not sure why, we expect some type of magic to be involved. The only known "cure" we have so far is fire! To burn the victims is the only way to prevent them from turning.

A cure and vaccine must be developed gentlemen, if not then it is only a matter of time before the Scourge has won... questions?"

Next in our series of Regional Finals interviews is our discussion with Kintt of Team Pandemic where we talk about tournament preparation, teams to watch and what makes their 3v3 team unique. Read the full interview!

Official Forum News:

• Have you been looking for PvP experience gain? Look no further! - Come you masters of war
• Been looking for something new in the Battleground lately? Look here: The Future of Battlegrounds – Interview with Cory Stockton
• Are you a Battleground goer? This is the new battleground planned for 3.2.0: The Isle of Conquest Preview
• Class Q&A Series – Overview for all Classes!
• Q&A: Shaman – Read the Shaman answers here!
• Q&A: Mage – Read the Mage answers here!
• Are you a raider? The Upcoming emblem system changes might interest you! Additionally, we have a post about the latest instance: Enter the Crusader's Coluseum
• For the tradeskillers out there, check out the Upcoming Epic Gems and Profession Changes!
• Are you a Shaman? Take a peek at the upcoming New Shaman Totem Bar!
• Calling Paladins everywhere! Come check out the Upcoming Paladin Changes!
• Druids rejoice! You can now read about all the New Druid forms and colour associations!
• Whether it's a Horse, a Mechanostrider or a Nether Drake that you prefer to ride, check out the Upcoming Mount Changes!
• Last, but not least, for all of you who prefer staying ahead of the current live build, these are the PTR Patch 3.2.0 Patch notes!

This week on the WoW Europe Community forums:

This time the poll is simple: How many mysterious eggs have you hatched?

A new week and a new shadow priest video! Be sure to check out Aida's follow-up video!

Do you like Gnomes?

Have you ever seen a UFO in WoW?

Ever wondered how multiboxers do it? Watch one play here!

Do you know of any Conspiracy Theories?

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Continuing with our Regional Finals interview series, today we talk with Syia who will be competing with his World of Warcraft Arena team. In our talk, Syia analyses the competition, talks about class composition and discusses the challenging match-ups he and his teammates from America will face in Cologne. Check out the full interview!

In our weekly E-Sports update this week we bring you news fresh from the front lines. Whether you are an Ensidia or SK Gaming WoW arena fan, or whether you prefer the clever tactics and micromanagement of Warcraft 3, we have you covered! Results from DreamHack Summer in Sweden, the ESL TV Invitational and NGL ONE's Play Day are just some of the goodies you can find news about below.

WoW: Ensidia wins Dreamhack Arena Tournament

Ensidia wins Dreamhack Arena Tournament beating SK Gaming in a nail biting final.

WoW: SK Gaming EU wins ESL TV Invitational

The ESL TV Invitational reached its' climax this week with the final round of their WoW Arena invitationals. SK Gaming wins the tournament by beating iNNERFiRE in an all out battle to the end!

WarCraft III: NGL ONE Play day

Coming up this weekend is another play day of the NGL ONE league with players like LucifroN from Spain, ReiGn from Korea and TH000 from China.

WarCraft III: LiiLD.C wins Dreamhack Summer

The Swedish Night Elf player Daniel Claesson better known as LiiLD.C Dreamhack Summer by beating the Swedish Human player Thorzain in the Finals.

WarCraft III: 91st edition of ZOTAC Warcraft III Cup

The Korean Night Elf player ReMinD won the 90th edition of the ZOTAC Warcraft III Cup. If you are a competitive player though, don't start slacking just yet as you don't want miss your chance to sign up for the 91st edition of the ZOTAC Warcraft III Cup.

Fan Sites:

Worldofwar.net has many updates this week. Machinima-maker Legs has posted her latest video, which she has made in collaboration with Cranius. You can also find a close up on the not-so-big changes in patch 3.2. If you haven't seen it yet, you can watch the new WoW Mountain Dew TV Ad, and also, don't forget to take a look at the 23rd WoW Comic. Last but not least, you can find a debate on Race changes in WoW.

WoW i Danmark has posted the latest updates on Project Lore's Soloing runs.

World of Warcraft Hungary has some updates as well and amongst them you can find this bit on the CastYeller2 addon.

WoW Italia is speculating about the future expansion and also the about the end of the world... of Warcraft.

World of ComicCraft:

Arugal becomes totally impotent without the Scythe of Elune.

Richard!

We all shed a tear for Leeroy!

And dollars at star number!

If you must pick on someone, pick on someone your own size!

The Union of Monkey Comix is a new comic series, and its creator would like to hear your feedback.

Time for the showdown...

Retribution Paladins need no strategies.

The bigger they are, the harder they fall!

Other Stuff:

This week's Friday Thread has been posted and it is dedicated to all things random... as well as plans for the weekend of course.

Avatarsunited.com have posted the last part of their Lore series on Ner'zhul continuing where Ner'zhul prepares to step through the dark portal. This part also explains how this ties into the story of Arthas and the "Birth of the Lich King"

One of our players is levelling a Rogue to 80 as fast as he can, and he is doing it all live!

Wowmods is a small site, which lists updates from all the major addon hosting communities in one place. The site is well equipped with both a search engine and an RSS feed and now also Twitter updates.

WoW-Start is a new gateway site, which displays information from already existing warcraft websites. Check it out.

And here is something cool for those of you who can understand French: The Mowow blog.

Here is a video of Ulduar from Closure on Stormscale (EU) that is something out of the ordinary.

And last but not least; Belf Pride! The video dedicated to all those lovely belfs out there!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Lady Oleander Percydale, a local minor noble that resides in a small manor in Elwynn Forest, is arranging a Spring Faire for the benefit of the entire Alliance.

This event is known as The Springtide Bazaar, and its purpose is both to express gratitude and make greater ties with the mysterious Kalimdor members of the Alliance, The Kaldorei and Draenei, but also to reward the workers and labourers of Stormwind with a new holiday.

Ambassador Merdrak of the Keldorei will be leading the Kalimdor entourage of ambassadors and visitors, and those who seek to meet these friends from distance may do so. Merchants and vendors will offer their wares for those with coin. Bards will wander the crowds spreading joy to all. Strongmen, Hunters and other masters will display their skills and accept challenges from brave souls. Fortune tellers will show your future and offer advice. A play will be performed for all to see and there will be music and dance at the end of the day.

This is a massive roleplaying event organized by both German and English MVPs and roleplayers, and many players from both English and German realms will partake. This event is designed to encompass all roleplayers from all realms and its primary purpose is to bring the different RP communities together to form a strong fellowship of roleplayers.

If matters little if you are an experienced or novice roleplayer, you can help make this amazing and epic event great!

We are proud to announce the participants for the North American and European 2009 World of Warcraft Arena Tournament Regional Finals which will take place on June 26th to 28th in Cologne, Germany. After several weeks of fierce and exciting arena matches in the online qualifiers, players from both continents have shown themselves worthy of competing in these Regional Finals.

In each of these two competitions held on the same weekend, eight teams of players will fight for the title of Regional Champion. The top two teams from both Europe and North America will have the chance to qualify for the Global Finals to be held at BlizzCon on August 21st and 22nd in Anaheim, California.

List of EU participants:

Seed	Team	Nicks	Classes	Country
1	Woah	Ocelote|Kae|Inflame
2	Ensidia Habaneros	Hydra|Kalimist|Redkoala
3	eDawgs	Raeli|Stgeorge|Saori
4	aAa RAT	Khuna|Avishan|Thorkin
5	aAa	Anelitz|Pheonix|Hiss
6	SK Gaming EU	Xom|Roez|Another
7	Rest in many pieces	Daisyd.|Phildryzen|Never
8	x6tence	FalcoN|Siler|Souler

List of North American participants:

Seed	Team	Nicks	Classes	Country
1	TSG (well then)	Veex|Valrath|Zilea
2	a wild rogmonkey appears	Velmael.|Roguemo.|Syia
3	Team Pandemic	BEY|propjoe|Shinaniganz
4	Team eMg	twixztwo|Niero|yapcez
5	EG	zyz|Azael|Kollektiv
6	Holyplay	rgo|Euneek|Tenderloin
7	SK Gaming	Crackf.|Pookz|dispelbot
8	Complexity Gaming	Venruki|Sodah|HappyM.

Make sure to check out our information page for the 2009 Warcraft Regional Finals!

This week on the WoW-Europe Forums:
A new week, a new poll! This time around it's all about the Dalaran Cooking Awards. The question is: what did you buy with yours?

Perhaps you're a raider, a seeker of glory, someone craving the challenges that only the Icecrown Citadel can provide. In anticipation of this great instance, come join in on the speculation on just how much health the Lich King will have!

Are you an Achiever? Do you have opinions on the achievement names? Come share your thoughts in this thread!

Mages, come theory craft with the community! This thread details some of the math behind using Haste with Deep Freeze!

We all have seen and probably enjoyed some of the high rated PvP videos featuring well known compositions and players. This video, however, made by Áida of Ravencrest, details some of his experiences playing in a somewhat unusual double Shadow Priest 2v2 team. The footage is both entertaining and fun to watch!

Guides, Guides and Guides!

If you could pick your ‘profession' and play that role fully, what would it be? If the answer is ‘architect', then this guide is exactly what you're looking for!

Perhaps you're the type that likes leveling alts. There are a lot of things to consider when rerolling a new (and unfamiliar) class. If you are looking to play a Priest, however, worry not because this Priest leveling guide will help get you started!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Do you think that without cooking the game would not be so tasty? Are you one of those who consider cooking a waste of time? Do you feel cooking is synonymous with profit? Whatever the value you place on the Cooking profession, come along to our forums and discuss recipes and appetising meals – but do not forget to vote for our weekly poll!

This week's eSports news covers both World of Warcraft and WarCraft III. We bring you news on the winner of week four in the ESL TV Invitational, an exclusive interview with SK US's very own Ryan ‘Realz' Masterson, the Zotac Cup #90, details about the NGL One: 1v1 Tournament and more information on the Dreamhack Arena Tournament!

WoW: iNNERFiRE wins week 4 of the ESL TV Invitational

iNNERFiRE has fought their way to the ESL TV Invitational grand finals by defeating Whoa in the fourth week. It looked like the WLD team of Whoa were set to take the fourth week for themselves, but the Bulgarian RMP team fought back, and in doing so claimed their ticket to the grand final. You can find out more about this story here.

WarCraft III: Zotac Cup #90 - June 13th

The Zotac Cup #90 is almost upon us. So, why not join the roster and sign up now. Time is of the essence!

WoW: Interview with Realz / SK US

TheDalaranInn.com brings you an exclusive interview with SK-Gaming's very own Ryan ‘Realz' Masterson. Find out where he began, what his career highlights have been so far and much, much more.

WarCraft III: NGL One: 1v1 Tournament

The NGL One: 1v1 tournament continues! For a list of upcoming games to be played on June 13th, be sure to check out the NGL One website.

WoW: Dreamhack Arena Tournament Participants

Dreamhack has announced six more teams who shall be participating in their very own Arena Tournament, which is being held on 13-16 june 2009. With 8 announced teams, and limited spaces, this is sure to be a great event. Check out the website for details of the registrants!

Fan sites:

WorldofWar.net brings good news for those who missed out onsgrabbing BlizzCon tickets before they sold out. They're offering you the chancesto win a chance to attend BlizzCon 2009 in their giveaway! Check here for more details on that! Not only that, but they also offer news onsthe World 1^st crafting of Val'ynar, Hammer of the Ancient Kings.

Wow-serbia.com has details, including thesvideo, of Ensidia's world first kill of Algalon 25.

Curse.com continues their sweepstakes for your chance to get yourshands on some Loot Cards from the upcoming ‘Blood of the Gladiators' set!

World of ComicCraft:

So you are the famous Leeroy Jenkins?

A! D! W! And S!

That's absolutely out of the question!

Ahhhh, Barrens Chat.

Other Stuff:

DreamHack - ‘The World's Largest LAN-Party' confirmed this week some of the participants of their recently announced Arena Tournament being held at this summer's event.sBe sure to check out the details!

A certain Gorloc has been letsloose on the Off-Topic forum this week. With the shackles off, and the shiniesson offer, a Friday Thread has appeared, and it's a little estranged to say the least. Stop onsby and let him know what you're up to this weekend!

Have a fantastic weekend everyone :-)

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Llandria sat upon the pier in Auberdine, her legs hanging over the edge swaying in the breeze. She had been helping Cerellean Whiteclaw with quite a delicate task, and was glad to have a moments respite in order to take in some of the fresh, crisp sea air. It helped clear her mind of the emotions she felt after reuniting Cerellean with the now freed spirit of his love one, Anaya.

She desperately needed some distraction, something to take her mind off things. Llandria was a strong minded elf, proud, and good at keeping a cool head in the midst of trauma and tribulations. It was unlike her to feel so attached and torn by someone else's misfortunes and emotions. As she sat and pondered, she caught eye of the boat heading towards southernmost anchorage, its sails furled, and the crew at the starboard side ready to toss ropes down to the pier. Llandria stood up, and began to make her way to the southern pier to see if she could offer any assistance; "A welcome distraction," she thought.

As she stood aboard the large vessel, tying the best cleat knot she could muster up from her memories as a young elf in Ru'theran Village, she overheard a conversation being had by two folks stood meters away from her on deck.

"This Market is going to be the best Stormwind has ever seen!" said one of the passengers.

"Yeah! I've heard that they"ve really pushed the boat out this time!" the other chuckled, clearly pleased at their pun.

Llandria secured the rope and took a seat upon a crate, one of many crates that were scattered upon the deck of the boat, and continued to listen in to the conversation between the two strangers. "What was this market they spoke of?" She thought to herself. Was this the distraction she sought? There was only one way to find out! The boat would leave again soon and head to Stormwind, only then would she find out more about the Stormwind Harbour Market.

Week 4 of the ESL TV Invitational Arena Tournament is kicking off tonight at 10pm CEST. The teams from iNNERFiRe (Bulgaria), Woah (Europe), Low Dmg (Europe), and last but not least the Finnish team Raging Gradon will be fighting for the last qualification spots for the Final. Don't miss watching some intense Arena action live at ESL TV.

Note: Official chosen team names may differ from those listed in the Armory.

This week on the WoW-Europe Forums:
This week we have another poll. The topic this time has brought tears to the eyes of many over time, sometimes of elation and other times of anguish. We ask you how long did it take you to fish up Mr. Pinchy? Share with us your tales and experiences with this snappy little "ninja of the seas".

Badhb of Ravenholdt asks us the question "if you were in Arthas" shoes back in Stratholme, what would you do?". As well as helping Badbh with his question, you may also like to read what the answers are needed for by taking a look at the first chapter of the series he is writing. You can read it here.

Every adventurer throughout Azeroth has undergone some pretty engaging quests at some point. Krodarksabre asks us which quest lines we love, and why.

When you first joined us in the World of Warcraft, one of your initial choices was selecting a realm to play on. You were greeted with a list of names. Some obscure, some quaint, some evil sounding. Do you know the meaning behind your Realm name, or want to know a little more? Patrons of the forums are sharing with the masses the reasons and rhymes behind realm names here.

Guides, Guides and Guides!

Bears rejoice, for Legende has written a great guide about Bear Tanking, and it now boasts extra large pages for the clumsiest of claws.

Levelling a priest has been made easy, thanks to Shandal from the Twisting Nether. So say your prayers and say farewell to your shadow words, because it's all about being Holy.

Rikkitazi of Earthen Ring brings us another take on Role Playing with this great guide. She covers everything there is to cover on the subject, and a must read for the Role Players amongst us, both veteran and new!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Happily snapping his claws in the dreams of fishing fans everywhere, trying to catch him can also end up being quite a nautical nightmare! But who is he? Mr. Pinchy is a magical crawdad that can grant you three wishes. Were you lucky enough to find yourself the proud owner of a Magical Crawdad pet, or are you still struggling to this day to bring in this rare catch? Please let us know of your efforts in finding Mr. Pinchy in our weekly forum poll.

Fan Sites:

WorldofWar.net has a few articles up for our reading pleasure. One about a Christie Golden book signing, one saying goodbye to keyboards and mice, and their E3 podcast!

Curse.com brings us an article about World first 25man Algalon kill and also a news about an article analysing WoW.

Wow-serbia.com brings us a article updating us with some of the most recent comics!

World of ComicCraft:

Hello my love!

All this journey... for nothing?

Within 5 minutes he posted a mocking rebuttal!

What is that bunny?

Big mistake buddy!

Other Stuff:

DreamHack - "The World's Largest LAN-Party" is proud to announce that during this summer's festival they have the privilege to host their very own World of Warcraft realm. This will allow them to bring you live excitement of the PvE and PvP content that World of Warcraft has to offer.

Have a fantastic weekend everyone :-)

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

"Awwwww yeaaahhh...", Noka Sodaip blurted out. In front of him was a party of splendour unrivalled by anything he had previously experienced. Banners were spread out everywhere, flyers had been passed around, and even on the bulletin boards in Strangethorn Vale could one see notices about tentative festivities. "Foxy Days indeed", he thought to himself as he wandered into the crowd. Around him were people of all the Horde's races; drinking, eating, discussing and debating. Everyone who had any sort of name were gathered here, and everyone who was not here wanted to be. It was one of those days, he thought to himself, that would go down in memory as excessively grandeur.

Then he heard the calls to arms. Amidst the horde who had gathered this day, were organisers of an assault on Jaina Proudmoore and her minions. Noka frowned, then thought to himself: "Nah, not today!". Today was his turn to relax, sit back and kick it. Perhaps challenge himself with a quiz. Strenuous activities, he continued stating to himself, could be saved for another day. Or so he thought...

This week on the WoW-Europe Forums:
We are continuing with our Class Q&A Series. This time around we have added feedback threads for Warriors, Paladins, Hunters and Druids.

Well, we all have our favourites. The question now is, who are you always happy to see in your raid?

Share your views and thoughts on the upcoming battleground, Isle of Conquest!

What would you wish for if you had one wish?

Guides, Guides and Guides!
Nesherke/Sharlila brings us this wonderful guide to PUG leading!

Do you RP a warlock? Are you perhaps considering it?

Are you an arms warrior? If you're looking into how to gear your character prior to Naxx, then this guide might help!

Perhaps you fancy changing up your play style a little? This guide gives a good idea of how to go from using the mouse to click abilities to using key bindings!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fan Sites:

WorldofWar.net brings us some new machinima and two articles about the achievements for emerald void and volazj's quick demise.

Curse.com are hosting a sweepstakes contest named “Blood of Gladiators” in cooperation with the creators of WoW The Card Game. Also in their network is an article with a video from a 10 man kill of Algalon the Observer.

Wow-serbia.com brings us a article with a video of the 10man Flame Leviathan being defeated with an impressively low count of 2 players total. (Serbian)

WoW-TR have made a ranking list of the most popular classes in May 2009 (Turkish)

World of Warcraft Hungary have posted a small piece on a helpful addon for the WoW merchants (Hungarian)

World of ComicCraft:

Kill the Lich King???

I was told you have something for me!

We shall decend into madness…

I can help turn the tide in our favour…

What is the next Blizcon pet?

Share the cake… or don't!

Children's week is all about setting good examples for the children.

If anything, the “How to beat Rogues” guide can best be considered a work in progress

Best thing to do is to go for the face...

Beware of the random whispers!

WoW terminology… You mother knows it too!

Other Stuff:

DreamHack - "The World's Largest LAN-Party" is proud to announce that during this summer's festival they have the privilege to host their very own World of Warcraft realm. This will allow them to bring you live excitement of the PvE and PvP content that World of Warcraft has to offer.

Episode 6 and 7 of The Chronicles of Leeroy has been filmed and is in post production, but while we wait you can still enjoy the older episodes

Have a fantastic weekend everyone :-)

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

We're glad to announce the winners of the Korean regional final of the 2009 World of Warcraft Arena Tournament. Teams "Shipit" and "Button Bashers" have successfully fought their way up the ranks through formidable adversaries en route to winning $15,000 and $6,000 respectively.

Each team will be invited to participate in the global final at BlizzCon for a chance to further showcase their skills, win cash prizes, and compete against the other top regional teams. For video coverage of the event please visit our hosting site. Congratulations to all the winners!

Rank	Team Name	Classes
1	Shipit
2	Button Bashers
3	SK-Korea
4	Without Dimension
5	Azshara
6	M Y T H
7	S Line
8	Tenacity

We're glad to announce the winners of the Taiwan regional final of the 2009 World of Warcraft Arena Tournament. Below you"ll find the final rankings from the participating teams at this year's event. Teams “D K P” and “all pass” proved their worth this weekend, rising above an elite field of competitors to claim the top spots in the tournament, winning $15,000 and $6,000 respectively. Their greatest challenge, however, still awaits at this year's BlizzCon.

Each team will also be invited to participate in the global final at BlizzCon for a chance to further showcase their skills, win cash prizes, and compete against the other top regional teams. For video coverage of the event please visit our hosting site.

Rank	Team Name	Classes
1	D K P
2	all pass
3	Nearer My God To Thee
4	ROC
5	實力證明一切
6	Peace of Formosa PDH
7	KTM
8	我聞到雨的味道

It was a dark and cold night in the frozen wastes of Northrend. Samilak found himself pondering if he had taken on more than he could bite with his most recent set of missions. Somewhere in the far distance he could hear the screams of dragons fighting something. In the other direction he knew was the notorious Lake Wintergrasp where fighters of all races were battling it out for control of the region. Samilak was alone this day; his friends on a mission inside one of the ancient underground areas somewhere in the north.

The gusting winds surrounded Samilak as he could be seen charging off into battle with creatures found only on this continent. Like a whirlwind he fought, taking breathers between battle to nurture his wounds. An experienced warrior indeed. Samilak pondered the extent of his abilities and armour for a while, then decided to set off to complete a tough mission he had been charged with earlier in the day.

Towards the ancient city rumoured to contain an old god, namely Yogg-Saron himself.

The creatures in the area were said to be collectors of Saronite; a valuable type of ore used by many crafters. Samilak had plans of retirement, of course, as any experienced veteran would. Today would be the day he bulked up on the valuable metal; both for personal use as well as sales. It was with this thought that Samilak realized that somewhere along the line, he had crossed over from being just a fighter to a business man in addition. He knew to jump on opportunities if they presented themselves… and pondered some more about this old god. Perhaps one day he would get to stand face to face with the ancient evil… perhaps he would be lucky and run into an expedition headed directly to the heart of the old god's prison. He knew then that should he run into someone headed into the depths of Ulduar, that he would offer his services as a veteran of many encounters with evil...

Tune in to the Blizzard eSports Channel tonight to watch the ESL TV Invitational Arena Tournament live! Starting tonight at 10.00pm CEST the second week of the tournament kicks off. The following teams will compete: x6tence from Spain, Rest in many Pieces from Germany, aAa Nawak from France and the team Sickology. Don't miss the action.

Active World of Warcraft subscribers can find the Blizzard eSports Channel within Account Management.

This week on the WoW Europe Community forums:

We have begun a Class Q&A Series. To begin with these discussions revolve around the Shaman, Mage, Warlock and Death Knight classes, with more to come at a future date. So head on by and join in the talks.

We know what you're going to say. Two weeks and two Polls? It cannot be true! Well, it is, and this week we ask you "What is your favourite Alliance male dance?".

This week Trifect asks which song best captures the essence of "he whom remains unclean": Heigan of Naxxramas. Some good suggestions so far and, well, some shockers too...

Lassai asks us "what would you do with 50,000 gold". Would you buy world peace? Would you buy a gnome? Come and tell us what you would do.

Guides, Guides and Guides!

Sneaky Gnome rogue Assassinette has updated her "Newbie Rogue Pointers" guide for 3.1 – a thoroughly worthwhile and very entertaining read for the Rogue starting out, right up to early level 80 raiding.

Aleithia from Steamwheedle Cartel delivers a fantastic guide on Roleplaying a Night Elf. From Culture to History and Lore, avoiding cliché and so much more, this is definitely a must read for those involved in RP.

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fan Sites:

WorldofWar.net brings you some previews of the loot cards up for grabs with the ninth expansion for the World of Warcraft Trading Card Game: Field of Honor. They also have word of another giveaway; this time you have a chance to get your hands on one of the "World of Warcraft: Night of the Dragon" or "WarCraft Legends Vol. 4" books.

Curse.com has news of the ESL TV Invitational Cup.

Wow-serbia.com delivers details of the world first Heroic: Ulduar Glory of the Raider achievers, Ensidia. Gratz to them!

World of ComicCraft:

I AM THE JUGGERNAUT!

How about we SHARE the candle?

Besides, they like cats.

I think the choice is obvious.

“How to beat Rogues!”

Why, what do you think it is?

"How do you feel, Uncle?" "Lighter."

Other Stuff:

DreamHack - "The World's Largest LAN-Party" is proud to announce that during this summer's festival they have the privilege to host their very own World of Warcraft realm. This will allow them to bring you live excitement of the PvE and PvP content that World of Warcraft has to offer.

Have a glorious weekend everyone :-)

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

The snow was falling gracefully, much like you"d expect in the cold climate of Dun Morogh. In the distance, the sound of stamping mechano strider feet could be heard pressing through the soft surface of the snow. Headlights could be seen shining through the slightly foggy weather, somewhere in the distance. Roars from tigers and the unmistakable “cloppety-cloppety” sound of horses stomping their way forward just added to the mix, giving obvious hints that something was taking place in the frozen landscape this day.

Just outside of Ironforge, people of all the alliance's races had gathered. Duel challenges were being issued left and right, the city guards were cheerful as always and everyone there was just waiting to hear the results. As it happens, this particular day turned out to be when an all encompassing mount-race was being held. Humans, Dwarves, Gnomes, Elves and Draenei alike, all participating in this event to prove that their "ride" was the fastest. The duels outside the city were everywhere; people testing the extent of their abilities and magic; Rogues could be heard sneaking around with no visible sign as to where they were. Oh, what a day for an event.

Just then, one of the race organizers shouted for attention. Someone had won the race...

This week on the WoW Europe Community forums:

We kick-start this week's Forum Watch with a Poll! We ask you "Which is your favourite Horde male dance?", so stop on by and share with us your preference!

You"ve probably picked your class for a reason. Is it because you enjoy turning Taurens into turtles? Is it because you enjoy shifting from one form to the other? Perhaps you enjoy the comfort of your Pet? Let us know why you love your class in this thread by Nazeran.

MVPs:

MVP Adnaw continues her experiments over on the Argent Dawn realm. This week she unveils the results of another one of her projects: "An Unusual Experiment with PvP Leveling".

Xenoronin has been busy amidst his exam preparation to bring to you "Pimp My UI" episode 94. This week on the table we see a collection of random mods, as well as the regular line up of UI treats.

Guides, Guides and Guides!

Ryleen from Scarshield Legion has gone "Beyond Tusks and Cannibalism: A Guide to Troll RP in the Warcraft Universe." – Such a marvellous read for the role-players and Troll enthusiasts amongst us!

Ulthrar, Priest extraordinaire, had made a guide for Priests on gear and stats over on their respective class forum.

For warriors looking to get into raiding, this guide is a must read in order to help you meet those "soft stat caps".

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fan Sites:
WoW Denmark links us to two new WoW videos: Druids Overpowered and Ulduar (I don't wanna PvP). Also they let us know that Project Lore is working on new videos for Naxxramas.

World of ComicCraft:
Any objections, raise your hand!

Careful where you put that finger...

No cake for you!

Not slow, just AFK.

So it looks like... Ground: 1, Donald: 0

And I guess that means... Apple: 1, Gnome: 0

Hmm can you hear something?

Just some random weapon, or...?

What goes up...

Other Stuff:
Looks like The Alliance Herald is back! Though established in 2005, they have recently remade the Herald and have made Issue 1 live for all to see. They're planning to release the Herald much more often, and it is now much easier for you to contribute. Be sure to stop by!

AvatarsUnited is back this week with more new cool stuff! This week they are continuing with Ner"zhul's struggle.

Check out this great WoW themed Chinese video.

Got News?
Remember if you do have news for the Community News section, please be sure to let us know.

Hope you have an exceptional weekend!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Too long have the Alliance been dominant when it comes to the quality ale houses, taverns and drinking halls, but no more!

No longer shall orcs, who work hard underneath the merciless sun of Durotar, gaze in envy towards Alliance lands when thirst is calling.

No longer must the trolls endure long and demanding tribal ceremonies knowing that water and fish is all there is to look forward to as a reward.

No longer must the tauren stride in vain across the plains of Mulgore, looking for proper food and drink.

No longer must the living dead find comfort in rotten ales and moldy bread of the past after a long day of plotting and scheming.

No longer will the blood elves have to endure any fond memories of past alliances, when fine spirits and exotic treats from all lands were plentiful in every tavern.

No longer will the Horde be standing idly by, when everyone else partakes of great feasts with good service to boot!

Soon the Horde will have a true tavern of its own, where the food is abundant, the drink of the finest quality and where every member of the Horde is welcome.

The Darkbriar Lodge will soon open in the Valley of Spirits in Orgrimmar, so come and enjoy the friendly service and the good times.

This week on the WoW Europe Community forums:

So let's start with some poetry, well, limericks to be precise. Stop by here and share with us a limerick about your character!

We all began our Azerothian adventures from level one, this is undoubted. We of course didn't know everything from day one, and probably do not know everything now! So what's the most basic error you"ve made within the World of Warcraft? Did you head to Blackrock Depths after being asked to tank, equipped with [Destiny] and spec"d all over the place? We know someone who did...

Last week saw the second instalment of the Argent Dawn realm event: Faerie Tale. Take a look in this thread for details and information on how to view the event if you missed it!

Guides, Guides and Guides!

Are you new to playing a Paladin with the thirst for retribution? Check out Querade's PvP guide here.

Winterhide from The Sha'tar has been plotting some evil deeds, and prepared this guide for you. Villainy 101 is the one stop shop for all your nefarious notions.

Druids take on many forms throughout their lifetimes. Maruath has given written a guide for the more Balance orientated druids, also known as Chickens of Doom, or more accurately: Moonkins.

Ornakh covers some very interesting points regarding RP, and the creation of plots. This is a very good read for the Role Players amongst us.

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fan Sites:

WorldofWar.net have some awesome and rather exclusive preview scans of Warcraft Legends Volume Four that are simply stunning. They're also continuing to provide updates on WoW Easter Eggs this week. Did you spot Agent Skully or Deathguard Molder on your travels? They also have a handy guide to Children's Week, so be sure to check that out before you have to hand back your orphan.

Lancraft have published a guide on gearing your Death Knight. A worthwhile read if you're unsure of what stats former Servant of Arthas should look for.

WoW Italia have launched a new translation contest – with cool prizes up for grabs what are you waiting for? Go check it out and be in for a chance of winning some awesome loot!

Worldofwar.se has posted a new chronicle, this time covering "Sentimentality", and a must read for all Swedish speakers amongst us!

World of ComicCraft:

Just who or what are we facing?

Ha-ha Noob!!

Uhh... Is this allowed?

I blew up the concession stand... again.

But I don't even like Crabe Cake!

Where are we going?

You are my greatest student.

Other Stuff:

This week, Avatars United delves even deeper into the archives of Warcraft Lore. For all those whom enjoyed AU's articles on Arthas Menethil, be sure to check out this new feature – Lore: Ner"zhul.

Well, there's nothing like a shameless bump, so for those who have yet to see this brilliantly cringe worthy set of fan films, stop by the Herculean Productions website and top up on some Leeroy comedy genius.

Have a glorious weekend everyone :-)

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Feero Ironhand was worried he would never get his delivery of messages and supplies to the Sentinel on time. The walk from Maestra's Post to Auberdine was a perilous one, and could only be achieved with the aid of others. He knew if he did not get on the move soon, Delgren would be less than impressed. He could only hope that someone would be willing to help him complete the task.

He stood up from his chair, and made his way to the window. He peeled back the curtain, filling the room with the amber glow of the sunset that painted the sky above the Ashenvale Forest. As his eyes adjusted he could make out what appeared to be a group of Night Elves sat a short distance from his abode. They were sat around the beginnings of what would become a most splendid bonfire, exchanging words.

He thought perhaps this band of elves would help him with his delivery. Feero made his way outside to see if the kind folks would aid him.

As he approached the group, he could see others heading his way from all directions. Before he could utter a word, one of the elves gestured him to join them.

"Take a seat, friend, and open your ears to some of the tales we have to share."

This week on the WoW Europe Community forums:

Let's start off with an interesting question: What was the first thing you did when you reached level 80?

An important thing to do for progressing guilds is to make an analysis of every wipe when success is elusive, but how do you best determine why a wipe happened?

Warcraft: The Movie... which actors would you like to see starring in it?

101 reasons to be an Engineer

Guides, Guides and Guides!
Last week we saw some nice threads for “maturity challenged” people on how to be polite and tips on being nice. This week these threads have been followed up by a new guide on How to reach a fruitful discussion, which has been posted by Dargrol of Argent Dawn.

Rikkitazi of Earthen Ring has posted a nice Roleplaying Manual, which is very handy for newcomers in particular.

If aren't yet certain that you are ready to take on Algalon The Observer, then you might want to take a look at this Ready Check posted by Nirza of Al'Akir

And last but not least; The Enhancement Shaman PVE guide posted by Masadist of Skullcrusher

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fan Sites:

WorldofWar.net have an update on an ingenious product for anybody interested in Tauren costumes. You can also find more updates on WoW Easter Eggs this week, latest ones being about Segacedi, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Alfred Copperworth. Also, do not miss out on the 2009 Noblegarden Season Guide.

Curse is reporting on the Swine Flu… in World of Warcraft. You can also read about the guide updates on Ulduar Hall of Fame and Yogg-Saron.

WoW i Danmark is asking for your help in a survey on how Alliance players and Horde players see each other as people.

World of Warcraft Hungary have posted an update about the most popular talent builds

WoW Italia have posted an Italian translation of the description of when Ulduars gates were first opened by Lead Encounter Designer Daelo. (The original description in English can be found here if you do not read Italian)

World of ComicCraft:

Off to fight the Wolvar!

Should one be nervous if one hears the sound “SCHLOOORP”?

If Thrall says ride, then you ride… having no mount is not an excuse!

How to make your own Dark Legacy Comic

Ahh the sea… so annoyingly vast

The feast in Warsong Gulch goes on…

Would you kiss a tauren if it meant you would get an achievement?

Don't misclick if you seek a friendship with your voidwalker

Maybe they should have just put Dalaran on the ground?!

Anyone can cook… or can they?

Rabbits everywhere and a Watership Down joke… what?

Other Stuff:

This week, Avatars United have posted a review on Baron Soosdons machinima masterpiece called No Point: Stretching Time

WoWWiki is offering you a chance to win one of five copies of the new Arthas novel. It is a screenshot contest and it is very quick and simple to enter.

When nature calls, it is always nice to know where the closest Water Closet is. The guys over at WoW-potato have made a directory of all known Water Closets in Azeroth... You better like nature if you are in a hurry in Kalimdor

Have a Magnificent weekend everyone :-)

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

An interesting aroma floated out from the Valley of Honor as Jinrok made his way through the Drag. The curious guard diverted from his normal patrol path to see if he could discover what exactly was emitting this unusual smell. As he turned the corner to make his way through the corridor leading to the Valley, a rather estranged troll came running his way, his eyes rolling around in his head as he seemed to chant words he could only make out to be "Dat me some strange mojo, mon".

Jinrok approached the lake in the Valley, and could see a crowd of people surrounded by a cloud of purple smoke. He pushed his way through the crowd to get to the center in order to see what the fuss was all about. As he got close, he could see a slightly rotten gentleman (if you can call the living dead such a thing) lying on the floor with a broken beaker in one hand, and a lit torch in the other. The character was certainly breathing but perhaps a little aware of his surroundings.

'So...' said the undead, 'did I win?'.

Fan Sites:

WorldofWar.net have an update on an ingenious product for anybody interested in Tauren costumes. You can also find more updates on WoW Easter Eggs this week, latest ones being about Segacedi, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Alfred Copperworth. Also, do not miss out on the 2009 Noblegarden Season Guide.

Curse is reporting on the Swine Flu… in World of Warcraft. You can also read about the guide updates on Ulduar Hall of Fame and Yogg-Saron.

WoW i Danmark is asking for your help in a survey on how Alliance players and Horde players see each other as people.

World of Warcraft Hungary have posted an update about the most popular talent builds

WoW Italia have posted an Italian translation of the description of when Ulduars gates were first opened by Lead Encounter Designer Daelo. (The original description in English can be found here if you do not read Italian)

World of ComicCraft:

Off to fight the Wolvar!

Should one be nervous if one hears the sound “SCHLOOORP”?

If Thrall says ride, then you ride… having no mount is not an excuse!

How to make your own Dark Legacy Comic

Ahh the sea… so annoyingly vast

The feast in Warsong Gulch goes on…

Would you kiss a tauren if it meant you would get an achievement?

Don’t misclick if you seek a friendship with your voidwalker

Maybe they should have just put Dalaran on the ground?!

Anyone can cook… or can they?

Rabbits everywhere and a Watership Down joke… what?

Other Stuff:

This week, Avatars United have posted a review on Baron Soosdons machinima masterpiece called No Point: Stretching Time

WoWWiki is offering you a chance to win one of five copies of the new Arthas novel. It is a screenshot contest and it is very quick and simple to enter.

When nature calls, it is always nice to know where the closest Water Closet is. The guys over at WoW-potato have made a directory of all known Water Closets in Azeroth... You better like nature if you are in a hurry in Kalimdor

Have a Magnificent weekend everyone :-)

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

An interesting aroma floated out from the Valley of Honor as Jinrok made his way through the Drag. The curious guard diverted from his normal patrol path to see if he could discover what exactly was emitting this unusual smell. As he turned the corner to make his way through the corridor leading to the Valley, a rather estranged troll came running his way, his eyes rolling around in his head as he seemed to chant words he could only make out to be ‘Dat me some strange mojo, mon’.

Jinrok approached the lake in the Valley, and could see a crowd of people surrounded by a cloud of purple smoke. He pushed his way through the crowd to get to the center in order to see what the fuss was all about. As he got close, he could see a slightly rotten gentleman (if you can call the living dead such a thing) lying on the floor with a broken beaker in one hand, and a lit torch in the other. The character was certainly breathing but perhaps a little aware of his surroundings.

'So...' said the undead, 'did I win?'.

This week on the WoW Europe Community forums:

"It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice". Do you have any tips on being nice? Kindness is something the world (both the virtual and real) could always use more of. Stop by and share your tips on how to be one of the good guys!

Whilst on the subject of kindness, politeness is another benefit to becoming a social wonder. Coltboy has come over to the Newcomers forum to share his thoughts on how to be polite, and asks for any advice you have on the matter.

So you’re adventuring throughout Northrend, and on your journeys you’ve no doubt encountered the fearsome entity that is the Lich King. The Lich King (contrary to common belief) starts the day like most of us; with breakfast. Come and tell us what you think the Lich King would have on his toast.

World of Warcraft harbours some interesting and wonderful spells. If you could take one home with you to use within the realm of planet Earth, which would it be?

MVPs:
When MVPs get involved in a project on the forums or in the game, it almost always results in some really helpful or interesting threads:

Adnaw continues her adventures as Georgianna, a Paladin of the light, and a pacifist to the extreme. How far can she go without harming a single being? Find out more at - An Experiment: Levelling and RP.

Xenoronin has published Episode Ninety Three of Pimp My UI. This week features not one but two ‘UI of the Week’ entries, as well as the usual collection of helpful addons, this time focusing on questing and levelling addons.

Guides, Guides and Guides!
With 3.1 and the vast changes to various classes, we’ve seen a slew of new guides come our way and we’re always looking for more! If you fancy your hand at writing up some guides, we welcome you to stop by the class forums and share them with us!

Vaillefendre has created a quick overview of the Death Knight class to answer any questions the budding servants of the Lich King might have.

Amphi has updates his guide to Retribution DPS for patch 3.1. It’s worth checking out, for sure.

Raiding Warlocks need look no further, as Warlocomotif has provided us with this awesome Warlock Raiding Guide!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fan Sites:
WorldofWar.net has many updates as usual, and amongst them you can find new information on WoW Easter Eggs: The Facts of Life, Mike Rowe and Agnes Moorehead. You can also see the amazing Ogre-Magi front cover from World of Warcraft # 21, and also, do not miss the bit about Myndflame’s new WoW Rap Parody music video: Honor Killz.

WoW Italia has released a new version of their QuestTranslator2 add-on, which now has 6679 quests translated into Italian. Speaking of translations, WoW Italia are running a new translation contest that has cool prizes from Upperdeck.

The Burning Crusade.pl are hosting a Video Library on their site, which contains Videos and Wow Trailers with Polish subtitles.

World of ComicCraft:

Two new WoW comics have emerged; please welcome Baltarouzz comics and Upa the Rogue comics :-)

A party for the Wolvar is forming.

Guide him to the tomb!

He be a sad cow, mon.

Did Trolls ever evolve?

Te’len has her own sort of strength to draw on.

Who brought the good china?

Breaking news report from the Storm Peaks.

What we do for gold

Boars are one of the most famous animals in Azeroth.

Immortality is not always a blessing

MMOZine is out with a new issue, which amongst other things has a big section about The Secrets of Ulduar, also known as Patch 3.1. In this issue you can also find an interview with Tom Chilton, Lead Designer of World of Wacraft, about the patch and about the plans for the game in the future.

Over at World of Raids, you can find a really interesting Interview with Ensidia, who share their thoughts on Ulduar’s difficulty.

Avatars United have posted their last Lore piece on the story of Arthas

New Machinimas and videos have also surfaced this week, some of which you can find below:

In For a Penny 2: The Thorne of Rose Street is a very stylish machinima created by Selserene, who is considered one of the most talented female WoW machinimakers.

The Zylophian Scholars have posted a video showing the Bomber Rat Game in play, which is quite amusing if you like “creative” PvP.

Return of the Ashbringer is the latest movie by Pykmi, which briefly touches the lore behind the Ashbringer.

Last but not least; The Friday Thread has been posted on the forums, and this week it is about Mind Reading devices and of course Weekend Plans.

Have a glorious weekend everyone :-)

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

After several weeks of fierce and exciting arena matches the 2009 Arena Tournament online qualifier has come to a close. We have seen a lot of changes to the top 10 during the Online Qualifier phases and would like to thank all players for their participation.

The top 10 teams of the 2009 Arena Tournament’s online qualifier as of April 22, 2009 are listed below:

Rank	Team Name	Classes	Win-Loss	Team Rating
1	seriously ure out		307 - 164	2433
2	cowsgomoo		244 - 88	2407
3	eDawgs		217 - 86	2402
4	àAà RAT		317 - 168	2374
5	àAà		405 - 295	2363
6	gqwgqwgqgqgq		155 - 48	2362
7	tera gaming con		246 - 138	2360
8	rest in pieces		148 - 83	2357
9	wannabemäßig		224 - 104	2354
10	Improved Clickz		291 - 153	2345

You can follow the full ladder rankings of the online qualifier on the World of Warcraft Armory.

After a thorough check of eligibility we will be inviting the top eight qualifying and eligible teams to the Regional Finals. Be sure to check back here to see who’s attending as the event nears.

Horns are sounding in the distance and the ground is rumbling and trembling underneath the thousands of troops marching in unison… The alliance is gathering its forces.

The armies of the alliance are vast and fully equipped, preparing for a merciless battle against the Horde.

The horns are sounding once more, penetrating the air with an unyielding demand for reckoning. The horns are calling for the blood of the Horde, for the Horde must pay for its crimes… The Horde must pay for all the lives lost at the Wrath Gate and the Broken Front.

The Thandol Span tremors as the Alliance armies are crossing in confidence that victory is assured by the blessed holy light. The campaign starts here, in the Arathi Highlands.

With its standards unfurled and weapons prepared, the Alliance awaits the response of the Horde forces, for the Horde must surely respond if its foothold here is not to be lost... The day of reckoning draws near.

This week on the WoW Europe Community forums:

Let’s start of this week’s forum watch with a simple question that many perhaps haven’t taken the time to answer yet: Why do you like your class?

Ulduar has been out for a week now, which for some has resulted in very messy desks. What things have accumulated on your desk over this past week?

Here is a question for the roleplayers amongst us: Which race do you think is the easiest to roleplay as, and why?

A Late Night Raiding Guild Register for Horde players have been created, so check it out if you play at late nights and your heart is beating for the Horde.

MVPs:
When MVPs get involved in a project on the forums or in the game, it almost always results in some really helpful or interesting threads:

Xenoronin has posted Episode Ninety Two of Pimp My UI, and as usual you can learn about add-ons and more, that can help you change your user interface to your liking.

Adnaw has decided to embark on an interesting leveling experiment; how high a level can be attained without ever killing a single mob?

Guides, Guides and Guides!
Quite a few new guides has been created over the last week or so; check out the most recent ones below:

Solitary of Ravenholdt has posted a guide for Priests on the three main sources of non-spirit mana regeneration.

Dvine of Jaedenar has written Quick’n'Dirty 3.1 FAQ on Rogue specs and changes.

Nzall of Kor'gall has made a 3.1 tanking guide for Paladins.

Hottrod of Frostmane has posted a list of pre-raid gear for Enhancement Shamans.

And last but not least, here are some handy 3.1 Macros for Warriors

We hope this week is a grand one for you all!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fan Sites:
WorldofWar.net has a brief write up of what's on offer at the Argent Tournament, and promises updates as time goes on!

This week on Curse, they have an article on 3.1 post launch including video previews of Ulduar and updates to other aspects of the patch.

Buffspot, one of our Hungarian fan sites drops a mention of an Ulduar Progress Tracker. Keep an eye out for that one!

World of ComicCraft:

This week on ComicCraft, Looking For Group's charity auction has ended! They thank everyone for the support in raising an awesome sum of money for an excellent cause! Now, back to business... "Was that necessary, my lord?"

Who on Azeroth is Nozronn?

Does he ever do anything but eat crab cake?!

Yeah, yeah, whatever you say.

Arthas is my brother as well; we have regular chats up in Icecrown.

Let me guess...

This week's Friday Thread is up, so stop by and share your weekend plans with us!

We hope you have enjoyed 3.1 so far as much as we have, and enjoy your weekend!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

As a shifting fog fought its way across the hills of Ashenvale, the sound of a cracking whip could be heard. The harsh tone echoed from tree to tree, startling the wildlife with each thundering blow. Brakangor was on his way to the Warsong Lumbercamp in the east, and was in no particular hurry. It was his first day at the Lumbercamp, and he had heard horror stories about the Overseer who looked over the establishment with an iron fist. He thought it best to dress up for the occasion and wore some of his fines threads.

He considered himself a thick skinned orc. Born and bred in times of war, he felt he could stomach what the camp would throw his way.

Brakangor was getting closer and closer to his destination; the sounds of the whip becoming louder, and more violent with each swing. He could now hear the cries of the unfortunate soul on the receiving end of the Overseer's wrath. Without a flinch, he continued his journey to the camp.

As he approached the boundaries, the fog began to clear and the sounds of hard labour became apparent. He stopped a moment to take in his surroundings, taking deep breaths before embarking on what could be a very tough day at work.

One of the workers, a young troll, caught sight of the tidy looking orc and ran up to him. Exhausted and out of breath, the labourer fell to his knees.

‘Flee, mon! Get away whilst ya still can! Save yaself!' said the labourer. Brakangor knelt down to the troll's level and placed a hand on his shoulder.

‘Friend, I must be here. Can you point me to where I might find the Overseer?' the orc said quietly. The troll raised a pointed finger towards a crowd of workers over on the southern side of the Lumbercamp, and with that gesture he collapsed.

Brakangor rose to his feet. He placed his hand in his trouser pocket, and made his way towards the crowd. As he approached, the workers saw the Orc and moved aside to clear a pathway for this clean looking visitor. At the head of the crowd stood a large, dominant figure, whom had now locked eyes on this unannounced guest. In one arm he held aloft a limp and broken worker. He tossed the beaten body to the ground.

‘I was not expecting fresh meat into my Lumbercamp today, orc...' he said as he walked up to the visitor. Without a word, the Orc withdrew his hand from his pocket, and with it came a metallic object. Engraved upon its surface one could clearly see the Emblem of the Horde. He raised it before the Overseer, and in a gruff voice said.

‘I come before you, Overseer, as a representative of the Warchief. I am here to inspect your facilities.' He looked down at the beaten slave. ‘Where shall we begin?'

This week on the WoW Europe Community forums:

If you could have anything in the WoW, what would it be?

Ulduar is bearing down upon us like an Old God infested ton of bricks. With it comes an epic trailer. Inhabitants of the forum have been discussing the trailer, join them and tell us what you think!

MVP Xenoronin over in the Interface Customisation forum asks the question: What do you like to see in your UI? Stop on by and maybe you can borrow some ideas, or help improve someone else's interface? :)

Here's a handy guide written by Daelyn on how to level a shadow priest. From handy lingo, to talents and spell rotations, it's all here!

Night Elves are mysterious beings, with a deep lore and fascinating history. Celegil has written up a great guide on some possible ways you could play the role of your Night Elf!

We hope this week is a grand one for you all!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fan Sites:

WorldofWar.net brings us the results of the The 2009 MI:6 Awards. Check out which awards we scooped up!

World of Warcraft i Danmark has some news of competitions for April. Definitely a must see. :-)

This week on Curse, check out some news on 3.1 and what it brings to your mount collection, as well as information on the Dell/Intel sweepstakes!

Also for those who might have missed it last week, please give a warm welcome to the Finnish fansite; Goblin Explosives who recently joined our fansite program!

World of ComicCraft:

This week on ComicCraft, Looking For Group are running a special charity auction! Support a very worthy cause and get your hands on some awesome and unique artwork!

You owe the Lich King a huge debt for this!

A few more wins, boys, and we're in the top five!

Is there something the matter, young one?

Errrr... Excuse me?

This week's Friday Thread is up and running, so why not stop by and share your weekend plans with the folks of the Off-Topic forum! :)

Pykmi has been a busy gnome, and this time he brings us his latest in machinima creations: Return of the Ashbringer.

AvatarsUnited have another follow-up on the long story of the life of Arthas.

May you all have a most awesome weekend! :-)

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Grellin stood at the Dalaran fountain, watching the eager fisherman cast their lines. He was never much of a fisherman. The fear of getting a big catch and being dragged into the water frightened the little gnome greatly as swimming was certainly not his forte. As he watched, he realised that time was passing much slower than usual. Previous weeks had been filled with some amazing events that he had attended. Some were crazy events, like naked gnomish races (now that certainly was his forte) and all other manner of festivals and markets. Grellin wondered if anything was coming up that he would be interested in attending this week!

He began to make his way to the events board. Weaving his way through the hustle and bustle of the Dalaran streets, Grellin he took his diary from a pocket in his robes, and flicked to the calendar. Pencilled in already were a couple of noteworthy events he would certainly be attending, and he looked forward to adding more to his schedule.

The gnome approached the billboard. It looked different to usual... more barren than before. He saw two fliers posted, and then glanced at his diary. In disappointment, he realised he already had them on his ‘to do' list, and whilst the events were greatly anticipated, he couldn't help but think to himself...

‘I wish there were more...'

Phase 3 of the 2009 Arena Tournament has concluded! Contestants can now relax and chill until the Arena Tournament realm opens again on the 15th of April.

We have seen a lot of new teams with new class combinations represented in the top 10, even though the top three spots are playing Mage, Priest and Rogue. For example the team “seriously ure out” has resurrected the combination made famous by Nihilum Plasma in the 2008 Arena Tournament: Druid, Warlock and Warrior. Taking a closer look: Inflame (ex-Nihilum Plasma player) is actually a member of this new team. Also the teams of “Hex and the city” and “WHAT IS UP YO” have done great work at bringing Shamans into the Top 10. The teams now have one week to prepare for Phase 4 which is an invitational ladder and starts April 15th right after the weekly maintenance.

The top 10 teams of the 2009 Arena Tournament's online qualifier as of April 8th 2009 are listed below:

Rank	Team Name	Classes	Win-Loss	Team Rating
1	we r randoms		189 - 65	2401
2	gqwgqwgqgqgq		155 - 48	2362
3	eDawgs		165 - 66	2351
4	BOMBERS		181 - 78	2345
5	Improved Clicks		276 - 158	2340
6	seriously ure out		242 - 142	2335
7	Unstable bomb		160 - 60	2332
8	Hex and the city		128 - 72	2330
9	WHAT IS UP YO		172 - 72	2327
10	àAà RAT		199 - 107	2313

You can follow the full ladder rankings of the online qualifier on the World of Warcraft Armory.

This week on the WoW Europe Community forums:

The Chronicles of Leeroy continue this week, and this time it's ‘For the Horde'! How with the group do against the mighty Druids of the Fang?

Combatants from around Azeroth have come together to discuss which is their favourite Battleground. Pop on by and share your preference!

Resident DJ Totalbiscuit comes forth and tells us ‘How to win Threads and Influence People'.

Fancy the chance for your guild taking down some bosses in record time? Well, you can post your proof here, and see how you do in the Speedrun Thread: the Wrath edition.

Pimp my UI returns for episode 91. Be sure to take a look, and whilst your there check out another thread started by MVP Xenoronin in the Interface Customisation forum. Come and discuss with the crowds, and tell them what you like to see in your UI, and see what others do with their UI. Maybe you can borrow some ideas, or help improve someone else's interface? :)

Barkbark has written up a Guide for Holy Paladins. This version, we're told, is over 9000...

Role-players rejoice, for Diocletianus has gifted you all with a great Roleplaying Guide.

We hope this week is a grand one for you all!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fan Sites:
First, we'd like to welcome Finnish fansite Goblin Explosives into our fansite program! Please be sure to check them out, most especially if you can actually read Finnish! :-)

WorldofWar.net brings us news of the 2009 MI6 Awards. This year, World of Warcraft has been nominated for a whopping total of 6 different awards!

WoW-Serbia.com reports on a super-fast kill of Sartharion – check it out!

Hungarian fansite BuffSpot has some news about their site's possible future – maybe you can help them out?

World of Warcraft i Danmark has some news of competitions for April. Definitely a must see. :-)

World of ComicCraft:

We have a new WoW Comic this week: The Azeroth Tavern, where service is NOT guaranteed.

It is feared that Loken still listens to the whispers of he who shall not be named.

The unbelievable has happened, Richard is being missed.

No one group with Leeroy Jenkins, he's a Moron!

Test realm is full of crazies.

Come Sail Away.

He is starting the all new Panda attack...

Who's the fwuffy wuffy widdle demon?

That gear is not make-believe!

Kobolds are proud of their candle.

The chopper is worth every copper.

This week's Friday Thread has been posted, so come on in and share you plans for the weekend and perhaps also share your April Fools' Day highlights.

BaronSoosdon has been at it again. His latest (and longest!) machinima is called No Point: Stretching Time. He also completed his machinima about the life of a person who dreams about WoW all the day.

Speaking of machinimas, Madcow has released his first (and hopefully not the last)collaboration with Cranius: Ulduar.

AvatarsUnited have a lot of updates this week:

• If you read French, you can find a few newcomer's guides about Warlocks and the Affliction tree. They also have a French guide on add-ons.
• The first Swedish language World of Warcraft podcast with interviews and discussions on WoW.
• A new community effort called "WoW Lend a Hand project" with the purpose of helping people with WoW-related matters.
• A fantastic review of what is probably one of the most groundbreaking WoW machinimas yet: Blind.
• And last but not least, the follow-up on the long story of the life of Arthas.

Have a wonderful weekend everybody:-)

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Wearing cloth armour is no excuse for being defeated in battle. It is true that you do not have the comforts of thick animal skin or metal to protect you, but that does not mean that you are defenceless... far from it!

Yes, we rely on our magic to survive, which is often all that is needed, but sometimes we must rely on more earthly means of combat, using only our staffs, hammers, spellblades or even our own bodies. One might believe that wearing only thin cloth for protection when magic fails is a severe disadvantage, but it is only a disadvantage if you believe it to be so.

We, the masters of magic and elements, do not use our robes for defence, for we have different ways of overcoming and defeating our foes. With the correct combat techniques, you can prevent ending up like a squished mana strudel after getting ambushed by an assassin or even charged by a battle hardened warrior. With proper discipline, you will know how to defend yourself without the aid of magic and elements.

Masters of magic and elements, here is your chance to master your weaknesses and turn them into strengths! Join the close combat course for spell casters, and become masters of the physical world as well.

One more week has to be played until the top 1000 teams will be decided. Let's take this moment to take a closer look at the current standings.

Quite a lot of changes this week as we see six new teams in the Top 10 compared to last week. It looks like Rogue, Mage, Priest-Teams had a pretty nice week as six out of eleven teams are using this composition. In addition Improved Clicks, which is better known as x6tence, who won the 2008 Arena Tournament European Regional, has fought their way back into the Top 10.

The top 10 teams of the 2009 Arena Tournament's online qualifier as of April 1, 2009 are listed below:

Rank	Team Name	Classes	Win-Loss	Team Rating
1	we r randoms		189 - 65	2401
3	àAà RAT		148 - 78	2379
4	Beat de Haut Bois		108 - 45	2363
5	gqwgqwgqgqgq		100 - 33	2360
6	nightmaree		113 - 38	2323
7	NOP		111 - 47	2320
8	BOMBERS		163 - 73	2309
9	eDawgs		108 - 49	2307
10	Improved Clicks		230 - 139	2305
10	sadpandasrcute		140 - 49	2305

You can follow the full ladder rankings of the online qualifier on the World of Warcraft Armory.

This week on the WoW Europe Community forums:

If you could be any NPC, which would you be, and why?

Are you new on the Holy Paladin scene? Well, Pairadice has written up a guide for all budding Holy Paladins here.

Clickers rejoice! Here's a great guide on how to set up and manage keybindings!

Cinondra has drafted up a delicious guide on PvE Mage talents.

For all you Roleplayers out there, Diocletianus has given some pointers on the Do's and Don'ts of RP.

We hope this week is a grand one for you all!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fan Sites:
WorldofWar.net has an interesting article up about "The Cruise Director of AZEROTH: Directed Gameplay" from the Game Developer's Conference in San Francisco, and also an article about 9 WoW quest problems also from the GDC panels!

WoWJuju has a whole slew of information for those of you who might not have been following blue trackers!

World of ComicCraft:

I have no idea who you're talking about, Shaman!

Crossing that red line...

Tag, you're it! Tag, you're it!

My class sucks! Mine too! Yeah but mine does more!

Restraint is something you never learned!

The final straw part 11.

So what about the dead walrus?

Have a glorious weekend, everybody!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

It was getting dark in Theramore Island, and Dyslix Silvergrub stood grooming his Gryphons. This procedure was something he found very relaxing, compared to the monotonous task of taking the exact amounts of coin from the users of his taxi services.

It was early evening, and his companions had carries volumes of traffic throughout the day. More than usual, he thought, for the average Saturday in Theramore. Perhaps today something was going on that he was not aware of...

Moments later, an exhausted gryphon landed beside him and a large figure disembarked from the back of the beast. He looked carefully at the passenger... This passenger was like no other he had seen. He could only imagine from the build of the person that they were of Draenic origin, but this Draenei looked... different... more ichthyoidal than cephalopodan. He scratched his head, and asked the figure what was going on with his attire.

"Today, fine Goblin, I am Mrrgglregl and I am a Murloc. Can you not tell by spines? Granted, my grasp of the Nerglish language has yet to develop, but it can be worked on for next year!"

Dyslix stood bewildered. "What're ya dressed like a Murloc for?"

The 8 foot Murloc-looking Draenei took a folded piece of paper, unravelled it and handed it to the Flight Master. The paper was headed with large text – "Come and join us in Therandia and be who you want to be... be a part of the Faerie Tale!"

The second week of the 2009 Arena Tournament qualifiers just ended, so it is time to have a look at the current standings. It seems that some teams are getting used to flying high, but others have climbed their way up to the top 10 and are willing to challenge the established teams. Please note that things are getting serious, as team composition is now locked for the last two qualifying weeks.

The top 10 teams of the 2009 Arena Tournament's online qualifier as of March 25, 2009 are listed below:

Rank	Team Name	Classes	Win-Loss	Team Rating
1	nightmaree		80 - 17	2404
2	we r randoms		189 - 65	2401
3	àAà RAT		129 - 71	2362
4	PHM		77 - 24	2339
5	NOP		111 - 47	2320
6	BOMBERS		163 - 73	2309
7	Almost Famous		201 - 84	2303
8	BloódxWorstRogueEUU		120 - 44	2301
9	I HAZ A BIG BOW		116 - 51	2294
10	Rest in peaces		133 - 79	2285

You can follow the full ladder rankings of the online qualifier on the World of Warcraft Armory.

This week on the WoW Europe Community forums:

Pimp My UI is here again this week, this time in its ninetieth instalment.

Many mums have been busy drawing the Lich King and the gallery has grown quite a bit since this thread started.

So... how did you fail getting the undying / immortal achievement this week?

There are many different themed zones in World of Warcraft, but which one is your favorite, and why?

And here is a thread for the roleplayers among us: Which taboos should a new player try to avoid?

This is the thread for you if you are looking for a RAF partner.

Guides, Guides, Guides:
We have quite a few new player-written guides this week:

• Saphirestar of Aerie Peak has written a guide for new level 80 Hunters, who may be unsure about what to do first after the final “ding”
• Benji of Genjuros has posted a basic guide on the new Arena rating system
• Pridethunder of The Sha'tar is trying to help tanks to find out if they are ready to tank Heroics and Naxxramas
• Procopius of Azjol-Nerub has made a guide on how to properly apply to a guild
• Mindcircus of Khadgar is offering advice on how to PvP as a Shadow Priest

May this week be magnificent and full of dancing Gnomes :-)

Random quote of the week: "Fleeing will do you no good, mortals!"

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fan Sites:
WorldofWar.net has an interesting article up about the Warcraft Legends Marathon Finale, and also a story about Myndflame"s Max Payne Noir Undercity!

Curse is reporting that their affiliate site, World of Raids, have an update on the 3.1 PTR testing of Thorim!

World of ComicCraft:

Dive through the window!

The catapult could only fit four of them at a time...

I've seen worg pups trick him into eating his own tra...

The life of an engineer..

The Arch Druid is under attack...

The final straw part 11

Hogger loves napping.

Thrusting Hodir"s Spear? Blowing Hodir's Horn?

Have a glorious weekend everybody:-)

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

For Tauren, the kodo hunt is a special tradition celebrated by many tribes across Kalimdor. Songs and praises dedicated to the Earthmother are part of the tradition after a hunt, and just about every Tauren will at some point experience this spiritual ritual. Kodos, as with many animals, are rather large and powerful – but lack in vision and audible awareness. This weakness of theirs is something the Tauren capitalizes on, taking the opportunity to sneak up on herds and chase them as a whole into some pre-set trap. As with all hunts of this sort though, they yield a great amount of food for everyone to enjoy. Following Kodo run, a great feast has been called for in which all Tauren may partake in!

Blessed be the Earthmother!

One week of the online qualifier for the 2009 Arena Tournament has passed and we saw some fierce battles. With three more weeks to qualify for the next phase we would like to give you an overview of the current standings.

The top 10 teams of the 2009 Arena Tournament"s online qualifier as of March 18, 2009 are listed below:

Rank	Team Name	Classes	Win-Loss	Team Rating
1.	we r randoms		144 - 53	2332
2.	I HAZ A BIG BOW		94 - 39	2316
3.	BOMBERS		100 - 40	2307
4.	BloódxWorstRogueEUU		120 - 44	2301
5.	Improved Clickz		120 - 61	2316
6.	Almost Famous		141 - 65	2241
7.	àAà		79 - 35	2225
8.	eStars		81 - 44	2213
9.	Squishy squish		54 - 30	2207
10.	Improved clicks		89 - 57	2205

You can follow the full ladder rankings of the online qualifier on the World of Warcraft Armory.

This week on the WoW Europe Community forums: What do you think your avatar is doing?

Perhaps you would like to share what is your favourite Metal or Rock song?

If you"re into some lightweight RP, then this thread might be for you!

How would you reconcile the high and night elves?

If you have some experience with guild and raid management, perhaps you"d like to share your views here!

Are you a hoarder or a spender? How much gold do you have now?

With that, this week"s forum watch is over! We hope to see you all back on deck for more links and cool discussions next week; same time, same place!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fan Sites:
WorldofWar.net have a ton of updates as usual, which is only a good thing. See the latest news from Stormwind Archives that tells us more about Dalaran. Learn about WIM (Wow Instant Messenger) in the WoWUI Mod Pick of the Week. Read the fourth story that has been offered for free at TOKYOPOPs Warcraft Legends manga marathon. And finally, find out who won the World of Warcraft: Arthas, Rise of the Lich King galleys.

Curse have quite a few updates this week, and amongst them you can find one of the greatest tournament videos ever from the ESL tournament. You can also read the news about an Ulduar Boss and Loot Compilation

WoW i Danmark have launched a contest, where graphical artists or talents are to design two banners; one for the site and one for advertisement on other sites.

World of Warcraft Hungary have a new video this week, which is portraying the life of multiboxing

WoW-Serbia have several new videos this week, all of them showing a few Boss Fights from Ulduar.

WorldofWar.se have updated their talent calculator so that it is now up to date and a little more tidy.

Unbroken - the trailer Based upon the original tale written Blizzard story writer Micky Neilson, Firebolt Productions is proud to announce the film adaptation version of UNBROKEN. Set during the time of the great cataclyms that ripped the planet Draenor apart, Unbroken tells the story of a group of Draenei refugees hiding from the barbarous orcish invaders. It is a story of both love and hate, and brutal prejudice which will leave a mark on the onlookers.

World of ComicCraft:

The war amongst dragons is coming

How relaxed can you possibly be if you have a large panther pinning you down

At least he had chicken...

Dual spec is truly a blessing

Is the guild falling apart?

Clash of the Titans

Run in fear people! Kissybear is back!

The final straw...

Dual specs gone wrong

Pffft… as if one needs help to take care of one little kitty.

How the I.W.I.N button came to be

Salted Yeti Cheese

Ogres have raided Orgrimmar! Yes, that really happened! You can see footage from the Ogre-Raid right here.

And last but not least, the official Baloch & Archibolt trailer!

Have a glorious weekend everybody:-)

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

The citizens of Stormwind are busy preparing for its first Annual Stormwind City Faire, where citizens from both near and far will gather to celebrate the spring and renewal of life. The city is bustling with activity as the streets are being meticulously cleaned and decorated to make Stormwind look grander than ever. The air is thick with anticipation and excitement; both common and noble citizens alike are wondering about all the grand things and spectacular events they are going to see and the many masters of professions are carefully sorting their finest crafts to display or trade.

People of all sorts are coming from lands near and afar, all intending to partake in the faire and to experience all the life that Stormwind has to offer. Amongst the travelers you can find mighty and skillful heroes, wise and learned scholars, colorful traders with exotic goods, hunters and beast handlers with extraordinary animals and creatures, but most are just regular common people with local goods travelling together with families and servants. There are even young innocent children carrying small and clueless fuzzy pets that the children hope will win the pet talent show.

This First Annual Stormwind City Faire will indeed be magnificent!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

This week on the WoW Europe Community forums: Pimp My UI is back, this time with episode eighty nine! Additionally, this week Xenoronin brings to us the first ever Pimp My UI – UI Competition! Follow the link to read more!

In case you missed this thread a couple of weeks back, here is the Illidan Stormrage papercraft completed thread!

Are you a tongue twister? Do you enjoy playing with words? Let"s see what you all can come up with when anagramming WoW terms!

…. or perhaps you"re new to WoW terminology and would like a little assistance in understanding all the TPs, EPs and DPs of the game!

Death Knights remains a popular class, and this DK Macro guide has become pretty comprehensive since its" first inception!

With that, this week"s forum watch is over! We hope to see you all back for more links and cool discussions next week; same time, same place!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fan Sites:
WorldofWar.net has a competition running, offering you a chance to win a World of Warcraft: Arthas book, plus lots of interesting articles and topics under discussion.

Curse.com has a preview walk-through of Ulduar up and running for your viewing pleasure, be sure to check it out!

Our Fan Site Program is home to some excellent websites dedicated to providing you all kinds of World of Warcraft related news in different languages.

World of ComicCraft:
I could sense its intelligence even then.

You've got a little something on your robe, there.

One Mysterious Egg, please!

Hey! We need to roll on those shards!

“Are you listening?” - “What?”

Farino! Attack!

Other Stuff:
With another week behind us, be sure stop by the Friday Thread, this week we're talking about Gadgets!

Throughout your time in the world of Azeroth and Outland, you will no doubt have seen and collected some cool looking stuff! Come tell us what your favourite looking pieces of armor or weapons are, and why!

That is it for this week. May your weekend be fruitful! :-)

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Grangor Skytalon sat atop the Hunter Rise and gazed across the southern plains of Mulgore. With his body and mind bruised from battle, his wounds only just showing signs of healing, he breathed a sigh of relief that the battle was now over. Etched on his memory were visions of the carnage that had ensued over the weeks before. He saw many of his tribe slain at the hands of the Alliance, yet he still felt a warm glow through his veins knowing that their lives had been taken for the most honourable of causes. Their sacrifice has bought Grangor and his fellow Horde companions' freedom from the ongoing oppression.

As he stared into the distance, Ker Ragetotem approached the ledge at which Grangor was sat, and joined him in contemplation.

"Grangor, my friend. We have seen many a tragedy unfold since this war dawned but something tells me this war is far from over..." Ker let out a long drawn sigh. "Despite our recent victories, I fear that only further carnage will hit our lands, and the drums of war will beat once more. Be it this decade or many decades into the future, I pray it is not in our lifetime or that of our offspring, for we have seen enough."

Skytalon remained silent for a moment as he took in the veteran warriors words, knowing full well his friend was right.

"Blood Guard Ragetotem, this battle was my last for I cannot do this anymore. I've seen more bloodshed at the hands of the Alliance than I dare to describe. I will be leaving the Bluff and heading to a far off land, untouched plains so I can be at peace" He looked down at his arm where a bloodstained rag was used as a bandage to help protect a large wound. He peeled the rag from his arm, and held it in front of him. He could see the name Bartleby stitched onto a tag which was sewn into what remained of a shirt. The shirt still reeked of alcohol.

"This cloth is a symbol of what this world has become, Ker. Its original form cannot be seen, and all that can be seen is the bloodied and torn mess that remains." Grangor stood up, and tossed the cloth into the breeze that whistled through the bluffs. Like a leaf in the wind it took flight, and sailed off into the distance.

Ker looked up to his Druid friend. "Will you be joining us for the Call of Victory?"

The Druid looked Ker in the eyes, and could see for the first time that this 'celebration' would be the last time he bonded with his companions. He nodded in acknowledgement. Without looking back, Grangor leaped from the rise. Agape with wonder, Ker saw his friend disappear from sight, only moments later to emerge in the sky, wings spread and soaring off into the sunset.

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

This week on the WoW Europe Community forums: Post Your UI continues in version 7. Come hither and show off your interface, or bask in the glory of those already posted.

The war between the Horde and the Alliance is a ongoing battle. Our community is offering their thoughts on who would win should the battle be waged in realistic conditions.

One thing is true of all of us; we started as a level 1 at some point entering this new world for the first time. What are your long lasting first memories when you began your epic adventure throughout Azeroth?

Plaguebane has come to the RP Forums and offered a brief yet very valid guide on how to form an RP Guild, starting this hopeful sequence of guides by taking a look at guild history.

That's your lot for this week! It's been fun, and we look forward to seeing you on the boards. =)

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fan Sites:
WoWi.dk has implemented an RSS feed for their site!

Worldofwar.net has some PTR 3.1 updates for us all: Equipment Manager Interface, LFG Tool Features, Dual Talent Spec Feature.

Curse.com has posted the latest PTR build update!

Be sure to check out the many other sites in our Fan Site Program as well. Many of those sites cover all kinds of World of Warcraft related news in different languages.

World of ComicCraft:
So, what happens when a touched one goes to Northrend?

A throne of bones… heh… bone throne?

Enter... Leeroy Jenkins!

Sooo... about wintergrasp...

It's the enthusiasm for sure!

The zerg wants you!

Other Stuff:
This week's Friday Thread has been posted, and this week it is about mind reading!

That is it for this week. Have a glorious weekend everybody :-)

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

The streets of Stormwind were packed with people from all over the lands; some even as far away as Darnassus. Essalim Logal was one of the travellers from afar; intending to stay only for the duration of the faire and to experience all the life that Stormwind has to offer. Essalim was not a rare sighting at fairs and festivities though, quite the contrary in fact as she had been sighted at events both in the Outlands as well as in the frozen northern wastes of Northrend. Around her, the sounds of people from all walks of life could be heard; dwarves shouting, yelling and drinking; the clanking and tinkering sounds of the Gnomish workshops – yes even the roars from the crowd gathered outside the city watching heroes from all lands and races duke it out for fame and glory were clearly audible amidst the faire.

The faire did not attract only heroes and veterans of the world though; pick pockets, beggars and urchins could be spotted in the crowd. Some practising their shady arts, some too buzzed to care and some just enjoying the event. It was a nice springtime afternoon and the fresh breeze from the sea was sweeping through the streets with impunity. Bringing with it the smells of the city, the breeze filled Stormwind with the delightful scent of fresh pastries, ales and all other sorts of goodies. Beggars could be seen crowding around some of the better smelling food booths in hopes of securing the meal of the day. Essalim, like most people, had developed an innate ability to ignore such elements of annoyance. This was, after all, supposed to be a faire filled with festivities as far as she was concerned.

"YOU!" A high pitched female voice could be heard from about 10-15 feet behind Essalim. It was Niksrit, Essalim's friend. "It's that time again, is it not?" Niksrit was pointing towards one particular booth. Essalim ran over to Niksrit and gave her a hug. "Indeed it is. It has been far too long since last. Where have you been all this time?!" Essalim looked at Niksrit in anticipation...

"Well, you see – there was this guy called Arthass and..." Essalim interrupted Niksrit: "Let me guess... he was a Death Knight right?" Niksrit laughed, then pulled Essalim along as they sat down by the booth. "Well, it's a long story... Why don't we have some food while I tell you about my adventures since the last faire..."

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

This week on the forums: Pimp my UI is back, and episode Eighty Eight is here to show you more wonderment from the mod world. Amongst a collection of recommended mobs for your interface, you can find this week's featured UI, Macro of the week and other note worthy links that are definitely worth checking out.

Gutrot returns, and almost triumphant to boot! Will he make it to level 80 wearing nothing but jewellery?

Fanthom has been scratching his claws against a scratching pole for some time now and come up with a great guide on how to optimise your kitty DPS!

Syih has crafted a simply amazing model of the greatly feared Illidan Stormrage... out of paper! It's truly amazing and well worth checking out.

You no take candle? Why not drop by the Roleplaying forums and tell everyone what your favourite Warcraft quote is.

That's all from us this week, we hope you continue to have a great one, and see you on the boards!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fan Sites:
Worldofwar.net has posted a great BlizzCon 2008 Retrospective Video following the announcement of BlizzCon 2009. You can also find a review on the BigWigs addon, which is a very nice boss alert mod. Furthermore, you have a chance to get your hands on some cool high-spec gaming headphones.

Be sure to check out the many other sites in our Fan Site Program as well. Many of those sites cover all kinds of World of Warcraft related news in different languages.

World of ComicCraft:
Eulogy for Jaellyn.

Maybe a moment of silence would have been more appropriate...

Is his aim precise enough to shoot the elevator button?

Can a broken heart really be mended?

Hamfist the Ninja Looter.

Is it possible to kill someone with interpretive dancing?

Only in PUGs can one be accused for Ninja Looting Soul Shards...

The final straw!

Achievement Earned: Flirt With Disaster.

How can someone be dumber than a training dummy?

Oh @#!%! Time for plan B.

Achievement Earned: Backflip Into The Void.

Other Stuff:
Avatars United has published the third part in their Lore series on the story of Arthas. They have also published Part 1 of their Arena Tip guide for Holy Paladins in Swedish. Additionally, they are challenging the brave warriors of the Horde to come up with a new battlecry, and the best one will yield a Horde t-shirt as a reward.

World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King has been nominated for the "2008 Game of the Year" in this year's British Academy Video Games Awards (BAFTA).

The participants/groups of the Continental Finals of the Intel Extreme Masters have been announced.

And last but not least, this week's Friday Thread has been posted, and this week it is about thrills.

That is it for this week. Have a glorious weekend, everybody!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

This day started as any other day in Orgrimmar, and just like every day, citizens, heroes and warriors alike are bustling about doing their usual daily tasks and duties. But the day is about to change and the daily routines of all inhabitants of the city are about to be interrupted. It all begins with loud rhythmic noises coming from the city gates, and then soon after followed by a foul stench of old fish...

A bunch of half-naked Trolls with crude instruments enters the main artery of the city, all of them dancing and chanting and singing about fish and upcoming festivities soon to take place in the nearby Troll fishing villages of Durotar.

Where ever the Trolls have been in the city, the stench of fish remains and everywhere they have plastered flyers and posters made of crude parchments depicting fish in vibrant colours.

If one looks closer at these crude parchments, one will find that they show more than just colourful fish. They also speak of "Da Feeshmonga's Frenzy!", a big party where everyone is welcome, where there will be markets, contests, music, drinks and food and of course fish… lots and lots of fish.

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

This week, on the forums: If you find yourself bored for a brief minute and are looking for something to do... perhaps you could check out this player-made warcraft movie!

Version 7 is out.... of Post Your UI that is! Share your UI with the world in this thread!

Perhaps you are looking for a PvE DPS guide for your warlock.... Well look no further than this!

If your mom was to draw the Lich King... what would it look like?

Are you lyrically gifted and can come up with a class rhyme?

Perhaps you are one of the adventurous players who uses Linux and are stuck with an issue? Unofficial Tech Support for Linux can be found here!

This boat will be back in one week with more updates for you all - same place, same time. Until then, have a fantastic week everyone!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fan Sites:
Worldofwar.net bring you an exclusive interview with our very own Chris Metzen and Micky Neilson. They also offer you the chance to win a StarCraft comic book signed by Metzen and Nielson and more!

Be sure to check out the honourable mentions for WoWVaults ongoing Comic Contest and be sure to submit your own comic for a chance of winning some awesome loots.

World of ComicCraft:
Burn it to... the ground.

I AM THE LIGHTNING OVERLORD!

A tale of love and scruffy Death Knights.

You.. cannot... win...

Time for Plan B, methinks!

Other Stuff:
Over at AvatarsUnited you're welcomed to take a read of their awesome review of "Tales of the Past III" – a truly epic piece of machinima based in the World of Warcraft universe. See characters from the rich Lore brought to life in ways you never thought possible!

Also at AvatarsUnited they have published the second part in their Swedish language series. This article focuses on addressing the matter of how to manage a guild, or how to find the guild that's right for you.

The Chronicles of Leroy bring you the fourth instalment in their growing collection of live-action movies! Be sure to stop by and check out Leeroy's adventures in the Wailing Caverns (if he and his party ever make it to the instance)! Be sure to give the crew some feedback for their wonderful efforts!

Lastly, do not miss out on this week's Friday Thread, for this week we discuss that sweet, sweet smell in the air. Will there be love in the air you're breathing this weekend?

We hope your week has been as good as ours so far, and may it continue to deliver! =)

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Bartleby stumbled through the narrow alleys of the Trade District in Stormwind. The smell of intoxication was strong in the air that followed in his wake. Though he was not prone to frequent flights of fancy, he couldn't help but wonder why the streets were so quiet. Desolate, in fact. It was as if the population had gone into hiding...

Strewn across the cobbled roads laid a handful of posters. These were not posters he recognised, and, if anyone were to know the regular scenery of Stormwind, it would be Bartleby. He scooped up one of the posters, its corners torn from where it had been displaced from its original lodging. He stood as still as his drunken legs would allow him, and squinted at the poster in an attempt to make out the words. It was at that time, the faint sounds of drums could be heard far off in the distance, slowly growing louder. It certainly was not the beat of drums preferred by the Stormwind Guard.

Moments later, the reality of the situation hit Bartleby like a whole bottle of Cenarion Spirits. The headline of the poster suddenly came into focus, and his first moments of sobriety hit him for the first time in over 4 years...

Warriors of the Horde! The time for victory has come!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

This week, on the forums: We want to hear more about your WoW browsing habits! Be it conversation or information you seek, we're interested in knowing where it is you find what you're after! So join in on our poll about where on the web does WoW take you!

There is certainly at least one thing that we all have in common, wouldn't you agree? No need to guess what that might be, but what was it that got you playing WoW in the first place? Spill the beans here!

We all have our heroes! Some heroes come and go, some stay forever, be it in our memories or in our lives. Our community has been discussing what they want to see from the next Hero Class!

Mineria has written up a really good guide on how to Raid as a Survival Hunter.

From Warlock to Shaman or Druid to Rogue, songs about classes are all the vogue. Ceasefire considers himself a poet. So do others and they've come to show it.

We hope you have a most excellent week!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fan Sites:
Worldofwar.net has an update about Blizzcast 7, a video about how figure prints are made. Interview with an Illidan model sculptor and finally a blog post about DKP and loot systems coming apart at the seams.

WoW Italia has a contest going around their quest translation project.

WoWJuju has updated their reputation calculator, and have also started a monthly fanart pool!

Curse has a whole slew of new updates which can be found here!

World of ComicCraft:
The healers... key to getting world firsts!

The bloodrage must continue, boy!

Let's dance, ladies!

The lunar festival... oh yeah!

Aww, the cute little sapling.

What's up with the pugs?

Help... the mirror image is scary!

Other Stuff:
Why not swing by this week's Friday Thread before heading off to some much needed R&R this weekend?!

That is all we have for this week. Have a glorious weekend, everybody!

"It be time for me ta turn ya loose on dem trolls!"

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Glu'jin stood in the cooling Sunday breeze that whipped through the Stonetalon Mountains like a snake through the grass. Whilst admiring the brightly coloured banners that decorated the trees around him, he only had one thought on his mind.

"Who be showin' up to da festival today?"

After the raging successes over the past two years, he hoped that the traditions would continue in the same light. The sound of the crowds roaring above the echoes of the wildlife, the flashes of garish cloth from the costumes of the contest participants, the cheers from the children as the competitors roar through the towns and villages to find what was asked of them. All this wonder, all this excitement could only mean one thing. The Festival of the Beast has arrived, and everyone plans on scooping up the main prize!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Pimp My UI
Episode 86 of PMUI has landed! This installment offers you some insight on the mods available to help you and your raid group down some bosses. From threat gauges to anti-slack measures, looting tools to group management; it's all listed here to help make your night as purple filled as possible. As ever, PMUI brings you other tasty morsels from the UI world including this week's featured UI and more.

This week, on the forums: So you want to roll a Death Knight but you're unsure of which race to be? Well, be sure to stop by and see what Niboo has to say on the matter! This handy guide provides you with some great pointers for the ambivalent amongst us!

Beast Mastery Hunters will find some detailed information on making effective use of their talent tree in PvE situations within this thread, courtesy of Danaos.

Warriors rejoice! A complete manual on hit caps for Warriors has been posted at the hand of Arnir, so don't miss out!

A comprehensive walkthrough on the Holy/Discipline Priest combo can be found here.

Have you ever asked a murloc for the time? This murloc is truly amazing, and it's all thanks to Falcore and his artistic mum!

That's all from us! Have a great week!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

We have a new poll in our forums! This time we're wondering where on the web does WoW take you? We're curious about where you go to find information on WoW, or conversations about WoW. Are you a blue-tracker surfer or a guild forum gossip? A fansite fanatic or a strictly "official or nada" aficionado? Please drop by the forums and let us know!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fan Sites:
Worldofwar.net has many updates this week, some of which are of particular interest. The Lunar Festival info page and Twoflower’s Mage Gear Guide should not be missed, but part one of the Insight to a Death Knight as well as the feature of interracial couples and hybrids in WoW are also very nice to read. It should also be mentioned that the Worldofwar.net crew is looking for new team members.

WoW-Serbia is working on a Serbian Knowlegebase system about WoW, which, amongst many things, includes information about Billing and Account support as well as info about Serbian Internet Service providers. You can also find a guide on how to call Blizzard Billing Support using Skype.

Curse is featuring a Macro Guide, which is aimed at those who just want to know the basics.

Buffspot has an interesting bit about professions, more specifically about reasons behind choosing certain professions.

World of ComicCraft:
Is he angry with himself, or the bunny?

Put down your Nerf Stick!

Gnome skin is silky smooth.

Chidori vs. the Lich King

Your mission, should you choose to accept it…

They just have to be nuts!

He is now level 8 and thanks to his father, he is now much wiser and learned.

Fire is still hot, and raiding is still serious business.

Please extinguish 5 fires.

Goldfish are plotting against you!

Other Stuff:
Why not swing by this week’s Friday Thread before heading off to some much needed R&R this weekend?!

We have two nice videos for you this week, which are both rather enjoyable:

• Augure vs Malygos: An aesthetic PvE retrospective of Malygos.
• How to wipe in Naxxramas using beer

That is all we have for this week. Have a glorious weekend, everybody!

"It be time for me ta turn ya loose on dem trolls!"

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Soon it is time of the little people to demonstrate strength and endurance; soon it is the little people who will impress all of Azeroth with their bravery and speed!

A race of gnomes will soon take place, and it will be of epic proportions: all in the name of science. For science is what makes any one gnome run faster than the rest. All participants will be naked (and probably greased up) in order to reduce wind resistance. Hair and moustaches will be trimmed for speed and tiny legs will move so fast that any image taken of them will show naught but the blurry motion of feet.

But it is gnown (get it?) that many of the other races of Azeroth are not fans of science -- that they find it boring or distrustful. So, in order to spice things up and to have more fun this race will run through very dangerous territories. Death will be a very real factor in this race and only the fastest, the must cunning (and probably most slippery) of gnomes will cross the goal line alive and in one piece.

If you wish to participate in this gnome run of death, be it as a runner or as audience, then have a look here for more information.

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Pimp My UI
Episode 85 of PMUI is here, and this week both random mods and new mods are featured. Worth reading for sure as there are mods for monitoring stuff, learning stuff, changing stuff, organizing stuff and playing stuff. You can also read an interview with an AddOn Developer, the author of BuffHUD and BuffSkin is sharing his wisdom and experience. PMUI also offers titbits and handy info on other things like macros, noteworthy threads and sites.

This week, on the forums: We have a poll for you this week, where can vote on which Heroic WotLK dungeon you feel is the most challenging to complete.

An excellent explanation of the Blizzard Authenticator and how it works!

If you are a Discipline priest, then this thread might be just right for you!

Here is a non-twink guide for low level WSG!

This mage soloed Onyxia! Here is how!

Newbie rogue pointers, updated for WotLK!

Have a fantastic week everybody!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fan Sites:
Worldofwar.net has tons of updates as usual -- which of course is a good thing. Amongst their many updates, you can read an interview about the making of the Wrath of the Lich King cinematic trailer, as well as the First Scenario for the WoW: Adventure Game League!

Curse.com also has quite a few updates this week; for an example a guide to the Mountain o' Mounts achievement.

LanCraft has posted an update about official World of Warcraft LAN events.

WoWi.dk is offering you the opportunity to win prizes in their January contest.

WoW Hungary is warning us of a new phishing scam.

World of ComicCraft:
How did it come to this?

How about a nice good old-fashioned deadly game of Ping Pong?

Don’t be judgemental on Gnomish culture!

Athrikus Narassin now serves the Burning Legion. He must be stopped!

StronzaComics latest strip about 3.0.8 meters.

It can be hard to find that one special owl!

It is amazing what you can catch with a positive attitude.

There is a lucrative black market for portals to Dalaran.

Loken has earned the achievement Mr. Zappy Pants.

Other Stuff:
The Friday Thread has been posted, and this week it is about New Year's resolutions.

Avatars United, A growing community site, have started to publish weekly articles on the topics lore and machinima. Read part one and part two of Prince Arthas Menethil’s story.

There are plenty recruitment posts on various forums and guild sites, so it is always nice to see when someone does a little extra to recruit new guild members: Najih Speaks Out (Recruitment Video).

That is all we have for this week. Have a wonderful weekend, everybody!

"PREPARE! for the return of the ancient ones!"

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

The Scourge casts a long shadow over the world, taking a hold and corrupting wherever possible. The Scourge is a powerful foe of unimaginable power and ingenuity, and no one seems truly capable of an adequate riposte to their advancing forces.

War is strife between factions when the very same factions should stand together and fight, for their leaders and warlords are not realizing that all other matters are petty, when compared to the threat that is the Scourge.

The evil is spreading and there are those, who are corrupted within our own homes, our communities, whose souls have turned dark. There are villains amongst us, beings of evil, who are aiding the Scourge willingly and unscrupulously.

If we are to survive this, we must take initiative ourselves and strike down evil wherever we see it. We have done so before, and we will do so again. We must rise and forge weapons against the shadow, to fight as guards for peace and light. The blood of evil will be spilled, and we shall strike fear into the darkest of reaches.

The Moonguard seeks for all to aid their plight against the evil, which threatens us closest to our own homes.

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Pimp My UI
Episode 85 of PMUI is here, and this week both random mods and new mods are featured. Worth reading for sure as there are mods for monitoring stuff, learning stuff, changing stuff, organizing stuff and playing stuff. You can also read an interview with an AddOn Developer, the author of BuffHUD and BuffSkin is sharing his wisdom and experience. PMUI also offers titbits and handy info on other things like macros, noteworthy threads and sites.

This week, on the forums: We have a poll for you this week, where can vote on which Heroic WotLK dungeon you feel is the most challenging to complete.

The Lich King is a popular subject on the forums this week, in fact even non-gamers are getting involved this week:

• The non-gamers are contributing in this brilliant thread: Get your mum to draw the Lich King.
• What things would the Lich King never say?

If you were to design the next Hero Class, what would it be like and what would define the class?

Oh, and Mordell of Shadowsong would like to know which animals are not found in WoW.

"Rise up Sons of the Horde! Blood and glory await us! Lok'tar ogar! For the Horde!"

Have a nice week everyone!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Two months after the launch of the second expansion, Wrath of the Lich King, you have had the opportunity to fight alongside Arthas, to show the Vrykuls who the new masters of Northrend are, and even to skin blue dragons. From the Violet Hold to Azjol-Nerub, the storm of adventurers broke the defenses of the enemies of Kalimdor. You have had time to polish your trophies and sit back and relax while thinking about your accomplishments, and now - we would like to hear from you!

Tell us here what heroic instance you find the most challenging. You are, of course, more than welcome to explain why you chose to vote for a particular instance in favour of the other ones.

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fan Sites:
WorldofWar.net is looking for questions for Chris Metzen for Comic Con, they have a feature on the mod "Stalker," and a guide for tanking talents!

WoW.Stratics has an article about getting rare vanity pets.

WoWi.dk has a contest for winning a Wrath CE, loot cards and other nice items!

World of ComicCraft:
You punched him in the head!

We're no strangers to love... you know the rules and so do I!

The gnomish scarf?

Where's the convenient excuse?

...and then there was the profanity filter!

Fight the crime together with: Milk-man!

What happens when you need RAM to beat the endgame...

That's it for this week. Happy New Year's, everybody!

"It cannot be ... A Forgotten One. Look to your defenses, death knight! Fight as you've never fought before!"

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fire Balls and Frost Novas! Ukla was frantically casting these spells about him in an attempt to thwart the efforts of the army of cows charging at him from all directions. Linerla and Loopy charged, unleashing some very mortal strikes on Ukla, however it was not enough. The fires rained from above, alternated with rains of hail and ice. Pushing the limits of his mana, Ukla suddenly found a new wave of about 50 cows charging towards him at full speed... what would he do next?

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

This week, on the forums: The name of the gnome is...

Extreme dueling: oh yeah!

How to spot them loggers of keys.

If you're a paladin looking for pre-Naxxramas gear, then this is your cue!

3.0.3 Onyxia soloed!

IcyFrog – the new comic!

Perhaps you want a WoW Graphic Signature – well, here's a generator for you!

Pimp My UI: Episode 84 is now out!

Have a nice week everyone!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fan Sites:
WorldofWar.net has some articles up for us: Worst 500 passwords, Arthas Book excerpt, and the mod focus is on LunarSphere!

WoW-NL is continuing their Christmas giveaway.

WoWi.dk is back! They also have some prizes to be won!

Curse.com has released a new Blue tracker on World of Raids!

World of ComicCraft: Watch out for the squadron!

The butcher of Kalu'ak...

What to do on vacation with a pen...

What's up with the wolf man?

Hellooooo Darnassus...

Never trust a night elf...

That's it for this week. Happy new years everybody!

"It cannot be ... A Forgotten One. Look to your defenses, death knight! Fight as you've never fought before!"

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fire Balls and Frost Novas! Ukla was frantically casting these spells about him in an attempt to thwart the efforts of the army of cows charging at him from all directions. Linerla and Loopy charged, unleashing some very mortal strikes on Ukla, however it was not enough. The fires rained from above, alternated with rains of hail and ice. Pushing the limits of his mana, Ukla suddenly found a new wave of about 50 cows charging towards him at full speed... what would he do next?

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

This week, on the forums:

A new year, a new thread! Post your UI v5.0!

What do you think the hardest 5-man heroic in WotLK is?

What achievements are you most proud of?

Alayne's story continues...

Who would be stronger?

In the interest of fiction and fun, invent an instance!

Pimp My UI: Episode 83 is now out!

Have a nice week everyone!

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.

Fan Sites:
WorldofWar.net have plenty of updates as usual, and amongst them you can find part 1 of the Icecrown Daily Quests Guide. If crafting is your thing, then you should not miss out on these bits about Enchanting Recipes and Leatherworking Recipes from Dalaran Vendors. Also, they have a few humourous suggestions for Anti Achievements.

World of Warcraft Hungary have a really neat update this week. A compilation of 2008's fan art submitted by Hungarian players.

The Burning Crusade.pl also have quite a few updates this week, most notably their new and improved forums, but they have also opened a new section dedicated to Videos (accompanied by a youtube channel). Last but not least, they have fully covered the Wrath Gate event for your enjoyment.

WoW Stratics have posted an update aimed at roleplayers searching for roleplaying guild.

WoW-TR have updated their site with a Turkish Subtitled version of the Wrath Gate Video.

World of ComicCraft:

• Cruel Richard has cruel jokes.
• Eternal love between Trevor and Sheila... and a few undead limbs.
• It is true... there is a buff to cure baldness!
• Everything happens for a reason... But now it is time for you to wake up.
• The Flintlocke Holiday Special 2008.
• Epic great-father winter battle... there can be only one!

Other Stuff:
The Craft of War: BLIND is the name of a new fantastic piece of machinima made by Percula, which is a must watch... in fact we will consider it a crime to not watch it ;-)

That's it for this week. Happy new year everybody!

"It cannot be ... A Forgotten One. Look to your defenses, death knight! Fight as you've never fought before!"

* Links on this news post may expire over time and some are created by other companies/individuals that are neither affiliated with nor supported by Blizzard Entertainment.