Into the Emerald Dream

EDIT: Sorry guys, until I reactivate the blog, comments are locked. This will keep me from having to police the comments for spam until then. If you need to contact me, please use 4haelz AT gmail DOT com. ♥

If you notice the blog template has changed, that is not a sign that 4Haelz is coming back, but rather that the other template was broken and I still have some pride with what I leave behind.

I know I have said for a while that once things slowed down, I would start reporting on the beta and testing things.

Unfortunately, it won't happen.

4 Haelz is closing. My time with WoW is over. Maybe temporarily, most likely permanently.

If it was just boredom with the current game, that could easily be overcome through my access to the beta. But I haven't logged into Cataclysm except twice since I got it. It holds no appeal.

I just recently got a job as a TSS (Therapeutic Staff Support), working with kids who have behavior and/or mental problems. Besides this, there are many different aspects of life I want to explore, including improving my art (two of the pieces in my gallery have Mature Content filters on them; i.e. NSFW) so I can perhaps take on more commissions such as what I do for BRK, actually sit down to write the book ideas I've had forever, whether or not they go anywhere publicly, and volunteer more at the animal shelter until (and probably after) I can afford to have my own dog. I also need to find another job, as my TSS position is only part time. I just recently purchased car insurance on my own policy for the first time, and paid to have the title of my car (that I am terrified will now break down spontaneously) into my own name.

I'm becoming an adult (or something similar), and frankly it is as terrifying as it is exciting. I just don't have the time, or inclination, to play WoW, and stringing you guys along saying how I'll get to it just isn't fair to either of us. Not fair to you because you wait for it, and not fair to me because then I'm forcing myself to play a game due to expectations I created.

My account has actually been canceled for nearly a month and a half, and I haven't been playing for longer. I wrestled with closing the blog, because I have possibly enjoyed writing in here as much as I had playing the game. When I received the beta, I had hoped it would rekindle things so I wouldn't have to close it. Then my guild collapsed, my friends transferred, and my boyfriend quit WoW immediately after I did. I felt the pull less and less.

It is sad for me, really. I played this game for nearly three and a half years without any account cancellations or real breaks. In that time I made a lot of friends, a few enemies, a couple creepy stalkers, and managed to become a trusted source of information and advice (who occasionally screwed up). I will really miss it.

I'll still be around on Twitter as @Bellbell, I'll still have my 4haelz AT gmail DOT com e-mail. You ever feel like chatting, hit me up. I've said before; I'm pretty friendly, and at the moment I just moved to the middle of the woods. I'm gonna attempt to be regular again about updating my RL blog, but that sounds super boring to you guys, I'm sure. My home life is unfortunately not a high flying adventure, QQ.

Who knows, maybe this isn't forever. Maybe I'll get the itch again and I'll have the time to scratch it, and Bellwether will romp through the plains of Azeroth. But, until that day, I will hibernate in the Emerald Dream, as all Druids eventually do.

Love you guys.

What Are You Scheming, BRK?

So, since the day I caught my hunter's Skoll, I've been hopping over to BigRedKitty's old site in the hopes of re-reading all those stories from hunters just so excited to pick up Loque.

Except...the site is gone?

At first, there was just this black image, with a barely detectable outline of BRK's old logo. Then that disappeared, and there was a black image with what looked like a spotlight shining down on the middle. And now...

Now the spotlight is surrounded by four speech bubbles. "Hey Hobbes, what does 'NDA' mean?" "No Dwarves Allowed." "Why, that's an outrage!" "That's Cataclysm."

NDA? Cataclysm? Dwarves? Could the most famous hunter of all time be finding his way back to the scene? What is he hiding? Is he (gasp!) race changing to Worgen? Why is he such a tease? Will he be using the BRK-1000?

Gah! I'm too curious; I need to know.

To Keep You Occupied...

It's finals week, and then I'm graduating from my University! So, yeah, I'm a little busy. However, I like to keep you distracted and happy, so I am now providing you with entertainment!

I was on a podcast!

Yep, last minute thing, where I was invited to Twisted Nether Blogcast for their 86th episode! It also had Lissanna from Restokin and Stop from Stoppable Force (who are quite more awesome than me) and we got to rant about that thing that I hate, i.e. raid lockout changes.

So while I'm running around like a chicken with my head cut off, follow this link and make sure you have about two and a half hours free to listen. It is really that long.

Good News, Everyone!

The slime is flowing again!

Yes, I'm back, for better or for worse. It's been a while and, let me tell you, it has been freaking crazy.

Let's see...I found a new guild, then after we killed Sindragosa our guild leader had a freak out, kicked everyone and absconded with the guild bank. We quickly reformed into RAWR I HAS A FIERCE (yes, I am serious, that is our name) and are back to our old progression.

Oh, and I'm an officer now. Recruitment, specifically. It's exhausting.

(LF Warlocks, Shadow Priests, another non-Druid healer or two, go to our forums for more info!)

Besides that I've had school, money problems, family issues, just lots of personal life exploding in my face and though it's mostly settled down to where I am not super stressed constantly, things are still pretty shaky.

Still, I've missed writing for you guys, and I've missed writing for me. So I'm going to try and get back into the swing of things and see what I can do with this old hunk of junk. Can't get rid of me that easy.

Stay tuned!

Rants Bell Will Not Be Posting

In recent news, my work on the Haste article is coming along nicely, hindered mostly by real life vacation. I'm managing to relax and relieve some of my former stress, and I've decided to try and be a little less negative about certain things. And, while there are many things I'm a little irritated by, I've decided...well, they're just not worth it. So, to tide you over while I finish up my vacation and some other articles, here's a list of rants I've decided not to post.

More Ranting About Random Dungeons

I think it's been said enough by now how bad some of these have turned out. My pug pet will be a long time in coming, especially as now I try to get it done with at least one person I know being in the party. Makes it a little more bearable, I say.

Rants About Being Forced to Revisit Content I Outgear By A Wide Margin Just So I Can Afford My T10

Another rant about gear resets and how it trivializes content while forcing you to visit the same old things again and again and again and again just to stay on top of your game will get us nowhere. Especially as many people seem inclined to believe that anyone talking bad about gear resets hates them because they want to hoard the shiny shiny purples all to themselves.

A Rant About Oculus

I have stated my utter disgust for the changes to this instance all over other blogs and Twitter. Any more bad vibes and spouting about what a mess was made of my favorite heroic and I'll just be belaboring the point on something that's never going to change back to it's former glory. I'm real subtle how I feel about the nerfs, though, huh?

Ranting About Guilds Who Use GearScore as a Recruitment Tool

Mostly because this just boggles my mind too much. I mean, seriously? "Must have a 4k GS or better to be invited." I seriously hope there are some other requirements, but just the mere fact it's being considered immediately sets off my alarms.

Well, there you have it. The rants you aren't going to see. Though, if you snoop around the comments sections of Miss Medecina's post about Oculus here and BBB's post here, you'll see what I mean about me belaboring the point.

Admit and Apologize

It hurts to look at something you've put a lot of work into, and realize you've done a bad job with at least one part of it. It hurts even more to realize you've been trying to ignore it, though it's been staring at you this whole time. Though people are reading it and you're confusing them, messing them up. And instead of fixing it you start avoiding it.

I've done a lot of things with this blog that I'm proud of. A lot. That being said, I've also done a lot of things I'm not. I've written things with completely faulty information. I've written things that were just plain wrong. I've gotten mad at stupid things, and looking back on a lot of what I've written I'm glad to see that I've come a long way. I don't always do well, or hit the mark, but I've done at least a decent job.

The regemming for haste post has bothered me since I hit "Publish Post." I knew I wasn't thinking about it enough, that I didn't have any real support for it, that it was just plain bad...and I published it anyway, so I could have something written and done between the time of finals and when I'd have some more time.

You've all noticed how poorly thought out, supported and reasoned it is. And I refuse to remove it, because people have made great points in comments. I've tacked on a disclaimer so people know not to trust what they're reading on it. But I feel it needs a little bit of follow-up past just rewriting. Especially as, well, the rewriting is going to take a while.

I am working on a rewrite to it. Unfortunately, part of the reason that post was so terrible is that I am not in a good place right now, both in and out of WoW. A huge deluge of real life problems and personal issues are pulling me away from WoW, which before was my haven from these things. I don't have a raiding guild anymore, and I don't feel it's responsible for me to apply somewhere when I can't commit at this point in time, and when you can't do what you enjoy in a game, it really sucks. But I still want to keep playing and keep writing, because it's still a nice break from things when I just can't deal with another problem blowing up in my face.

If there are other posts that come before the Gemming Haste rewrite, understand I'm not putting it off, it's just going to take a lot of work to try and do it right, and other things may get written in the meantime. I have posts owed other people, and I want to make sure they get done.

I don't know if this seems over-dramatic for a single post, but this blog and the information is contains is pretty important to me. I enjoy writing in it, I enjoy helping people, and when I print something so poorly done, it bothers me (and it bothered many of you). Please know I'm working to correct it, and if you want to keep commenting on the old one, please do. It can only help, and as soon as I can I'll address and fix everything.

Though it's likely not needed to be said, I request that those of you who know the specifics of some of the personal/real life issues mentioned briefly please not post any details of them in the comments.

The Return of Druid Heal!

As the title of his newest post says, Raaff is back! That wonderful author of the Druid Resto Mega Guide has returned to us after a long hiatus via cancelled account. It's nice to have him back, and doubly nice to hear he's updating his guide piece by piece.


So go by, welcome him back, and help him out with his guide!

Wanted

I was tagged by Braids over at Out of Mana to do this. It's kind of a lame attempt, but I gave it a shot!

To tag others to come up with something much better...

Tree Bark Jacket
Druid Heal!
Leafshine
Tree Burglar
Treebound Cat

And never fear, Part Four will be up in the next few days!

Note for those of you who use IE:

For some reason my layout bugs out in IE and starts removing text from the posts. If you mouse over the post title, it should correct itself. I'll be working on figuring out why this problem exists; for now please bear with me.

Twisted Nether Welcome Wagon Returns!

And yours truly is driving.

As terrifying as that is, I urge you to head on over and check it out. Every week on Friday I'll be introducing a new blog. Some have a few months of experience, some have only a few posts to go off of. It's a great way to expand your feed reader and find new voices, so I highly recommend it.

This is, however, the only time I'm going to remind you, as you should have Twisted Nether in your feedreader anyway. They're a great podcast with news, advice, interviews and more. I've been on it, and though I sound like a completely nervous dork (which is appropriate, seeing as how that's what I was) with a twelve-year-old's voice, Bre and Fim are always awesome, and have the best guests.

So head on over, check it out, stay a while, listen to bloggers strut their stuff, and have a good time!

Welcome to the New 4 Haelz!

Isn't it shiny? Isn't it spiffy?

I've wanted three columns for forever, so that people didn't have to scroll down a mile to find important information.

It's still a little disorienting to me, after having used the same theme for over a year, but I like it. I hope everyone else does as well; I've been told it looks like a margarita!

And, well, if you don't like it, you can always read the blog through a feed reader!

Bear is Awesome

But his feedburner sucks.

See the evidence here.

If you subscribe to Big Bear Butt's blog, and have been wondering why he hasn't been updating, well, his feedburner broke and you need to resubscribe!

Wouldn't want to miss out on anything this Bear churns out, imo.

I'm Back!

Hey everyone! I'm back! I know, boo-hoo, the guest posts were much awesomer. And now you're stuck with boring old Bell.

QQ MOAR! YOUR TEARS SUSTAIN ME OM NOM NOM.

Okay, so I'm a little hyper. I got a new computer! And we all thought it would never happen. It is a gorgeous little Asus computer that runs like a dream. No lag in Dalaran! I love it, I do.

But, due to the circumstances under which I purchased this laptop (my old one refused to turn on at all), I don't have access to anything but my school work, which I had saved on a flash drive. So it's a slow process of making new screenshots and recovering old pictures and the like.

I have shiny new programs like GIMP (thanks to One Among Many). And with a little help from Phaelia, you all have a pretty new banner to look at! Soon I'm going to go back through my blogroll and fix it up nice, and make some little tweaks here and there. Expect a new pic on the side sometime whenever I can get Sann alone to take a screenshot!

Thanks for all the comments while I was away!

AFK, Posting: Happy New Year!

It's a new year, and I hope everyone is having a great start so far.

I'd like to think of the new year as a time for new beginnings, or simply just better continuations. Always improving! It's important.

My blog is pretty important to me. I track what searches people use to find me, how high I appear on google lists, what people comment about most, what helps people and what they just enjoy reading. Unfortunately, not everyone who reads comments, and I can't always tell if what I'm saying is funny, helpful or a waste of type.

I get about 200 unique visits a day, give or take, and sometimes 400-500 page views on any day. What I would like to know is what people find helpful, what they find entertaining, what they'd like to see more of.

I can't do everything. I'm hopeless with math; that's where Phaelia comes in. I'm not up to date with feral workings; Currant, Bear or Karthis would be more helpful there. I don't have the time or equipment to do podcasts like Twisted Nether or BRK (though being guests on them is fun, even if I do sound like a twelve year old). So, asking me for anything of that sort won't help.

I won't ask you what you like via polls; I find they give very little useful information. I would rather you simply leave a comment on what you've enjoyed over the years, whether it was the silly songs, the posts of general WoW conduct, boss guides, Bellbell's adventures, or, of course, my Resto-centric posts. Is there anything you never want to see me write about again, or that I could have covered better? Also write that down!

I appreciate your help, as, though I write this blog for myself, I also write it for my readers and to fulfill my desire to help people, even if it's just with a laugh or bit of advice.

Best wishes for the New Year!

For Those of You Who Didn't Notice...

...I have a new author on the blog. He kind of jumped the gun and didn't let me introduce him first (I suppose I didn't tell him I wanted to, though), so...

His name's Sannhet, but you all might know him better as "Button." Once a gnome Warrior of supreme terror, now he's an uncanny mixture of Ret Paladin, Frost Death Knight and soon-to-be Resto Shaman. I offered him a home here on my blog since he wants to write, he's my friend, and he seems to find maintaining his own blog to be a hassle.

Plus, he's got a wicked sense of humor, what seems like a bunch of free time, and is supremely tolerant of my occasional begging for guest posts.

Expect, when I have time, for the template of the blog to change a bit to showcase my new helper (no longer gnome-sized). For those of you terrified I'm losing sight of the Druidic way, no worries; my main is Bellwether, will always be Bellwether, and I am itching to start healing again when I get back from my time away.

Remember, you have until Saturday the 13th at noon PST to send me in guest posts! I already have a good selection of really nice ones, but more never hurt. Also, remember, if you're a blogger, include a link to your own blog. People reading your posts might want to find out more about you. :)

4 Haelz, LF PUG

Well, the holidays are upon us, and I, like many, will be going places, doing things, being all Christmas-y. From about the 15th of December to the 7th of January, my time online will be very, very limited. I do not, however, want this blog to not update at all in that time.

That being said, I have some things I wish to write up and will hopefully be ready before I have to go, but! I would like to extend the opportunity for anyone, anyone, who is interested in writing a WoW-type post for 4 Haelz to do so and send it in. Whether you have a blog, don't have a blog, are new to the game, want to talk about druids, paladins, etc., want to write a little bit of roleplay fiction, rant about what Blizz changed, rant about what Blizz should change, or what have you, I encourage you to send it in. Seriously!

I'll read them over, and post what I can (if it's appropriate and coherent).

That being said, to be able to read them before I have to take my hiatus, I need them in my e-mail (4haelz AT gmail DOT com) by December 13th, 12:00 PM PST. I would prefer a subject line that is amusing, like "hai u ned deeps lulz" or something, as I'm technically looking for a PUG. If you feel a deep need to be professional in your subject line, however, something like "4 Haelz Guest Post" wouldn't go amiss.

Remember, as long as it is well-written, grammatically correct, not overtly abusive, and is, of course, WoW-related, feel free to submit it!

Thanks everyone! :)

Blogaversary!

It's my blogaversary!

One year ago I made my first post on this blog. I wrote about Dalliah the Doomsayer, a boss in Arcatraz, who I thought was tough and interesting and probably I put more importance on her than necessary. Later, I wrote more and more and more and established what I hope has been a good and helpful read for all WoW players (if especially druids), with some fun and jokes and sarcasm and RP mixed in for flavor and spice.

This blog has had a wonderful year, right? RIGHT!

Enough about me, though. I would like to extend my thanks to a large number of people, without whom this likely would not have been possible, or at least would be very different and not as good as it is now.

Sharlet:
I love you. Thank you for encouraging me, always reading everything I wrote, no matter how good or bad it was, and understanding when I get all excited. You understand it's not "just a game" and have helped me out so much. Thank you and, again, I love you.

Phaelia:
You write the defining WoW blog that spurred me into creating my own. You showed me that I could do this, that people wanted this sort of information. You set a standard that, though I didn't know if I could reach it, kept me motivated to give good, helpful information anyone could use. And you're a wonderful person who is fun to talk to. Thank you.

BBB:
You were the first druid blog I ever read. You were fun, smart, helpful and full of attitude. You helped me shape my own style and be a less afraid of critics and more confident in myself as a writer and informant (and you probably never knew!). Not only that, but you welcomed me into your guild, joked with me, played with me, and we had a good time. Thank you.

BRK:
You're a riot, you know your stuff, and you were my first WoW blog. I've never gotten a hunter past level 18, and your blog makes me sorry for that fact every day. Even though Bellbell finds your tactics frustrating, through reading your blog she managed to kill a Beast Mastery hunter a level above her in Hellfire the other day. You were my first inspiration and always have been a favorite. Thank you.

Ratshag:
You probably aren't aware, but through reading your blog and playing with Palintera on Feralicious, I was able to write for Bellbell. She gained personality and dynamic because I read your blog and thought "I want to do that, too." You also showed me how I could make amazingly great friends through my blog. Thank you, and thanks for taking me out to dinner, too.

Sannhet:
Thank you for being one of the best friends and the best guild leader I've ever had, and for always encouraging me to write. You've always told me I was a great druid, even when I was screwing up as a feral in the level 40's. I'll always be one of your generals at heart. Thank you.

Harl:
Thank you for bugging me when I don't post, telling me I'm a great healer when I refused to believe you anyway, and playing on a server type you disliked so we could hang out. You've been helpful to me in so many ways, including showing me that good friendships really don't end when someone stops playing. Thank you.

There are so many people to thank...it is difficult to get them all, and a personalized list of even just names would stretch forever. To everyone in BA Chat, to every blogger who has helped me, given me advice, or listened to mine, to every person who has read my blog, whether you agreed or disagreed, to my guest posters, to my guild members and WoW friends, to those who commented, those who simply said thank you, who shared my blog, who linked to me, to those who encouraged me, who debated with me, who pushed me, prodded me, and in any way influenced my writing and gaming experience...

Thank you! You made this blogaversary possible!

Meet My New/Old Friends and the Only Achievement I'm Working On

There are two new additions to the blogosphere, and one old addition who has returned with a new name!

First off, we have Spam Moonfare, a brand-new druid blog. The author of this blog contacted me via e-mail about a link exchange, and I wandered over there to check out his site. He's off to a spectacular start for people who like big reads, as the vast majority of his posts are meaty. And it's not just filler; this moonkin's got stuff to say! And I'd suggest you pay attention, or you may just be Typhoon spammed to death!

Next up we have the priest blog Starshards FTW! by my friend Bellezza. That's right, I'm not the only blogging Bell anymore (and she's even on my server! The confusion!). My blogging is apparantly a sort of communicable disease, as this would make the sixth or seventh person who has decided to start a blog, is one of my friends, and said to me something along the lines of "omg I want to blog too!" after reading some of my posts. She's off to an excellent start, and I'd encourage anyone, even if you've only slightly considered rolling a priest, to check her out.

And finally, we have Alts for One, a renamed blog by my friend Harl. This guy is harcore into the levelling of toons, and I don't even remember the final count of 70's he has. The great thing is, he's pretty knowledgeable about all of them, and take the time to do his homework. Currently, he's levelling a warrior, and odds are he's going to catch up to Bellbell in a matter of weeks.

Now, what's the only achievement I'm working on actively pre-Wrath?

Pets. Pets, pets, pets. "Shop Smart, Shop Pet...Smart" is an achievement for owning 50 pets, and with it you get what is called a Reeking Pet Carrier. And in said smelly box is a skunk, a skunk named Stinker. And ever since I first saw the little buggers roaming around Azuremyst, I have squeed and cooed and gone "that. must. be. a. pet."

And now it is and now I will have it.

I have 42 pets so far, and I have a plan for the rest (and they'll be relatively easy to get). However, there's a Dark Whelpling up on the AH for 800g I'm just...so tempted to get. So tempted. However, 800g is a lot for one pet, especially when the others will be cheaper and larger in quantity.

But, seriously...a Dark Whelpling!

/indecision

/trinket

I'm moved in, I'm comfortable, classes have started and stress has eased for the moment. *Phew*

Thanks for bearing with me, everyone. The next part of the series will be up soon.

And you can all have your understanding back; I'm sure there's someone else who could use it.

/tar 4 Haelz /cast Cyclone

It seems like only a little while ago that I needed guest bloggers because I was going on vacation. And, indeed, it was only a little while ago. However, I’m about to likely disappear for a week or so. I’m not asking for guest bloggers, as in truth I wouldn’t have time to upload their submissions, nor do I have time to give them warning to work on them.

You see, my housing for this semester of university is in utter turmoil. I don’t know where I’m going to live or how soon I’m going to have internet. I seem to keep getting some sort of amazing find that will get me set and ready to go, only to have it fall apart at the last minute. The yo-yoing is frustrating and emotionally draining; I’m stressed and depressed. For the past few days I’ve been babysitting from about 6 AM to 5 PM every day, calling apartment buildings, my university, and trying to pack without knowing just how much room for things I’ll need (or what, in truth, I will need to bring). I have been on Bellwether a total of fifteen minutes and only to apologize to people I had made plans with. I have no internet at my father’s and few chances to use it while at my mother’s.

There are comments I want to respond to, e-mails I need to get to, and all manner of things that just can’t be done right now due to the clusterfuck that is my living situation.

Therefore, all I’m asking is your patience while I get my stuff sorted out, and I apologize for leaving you in the middle of that five-part series.

Thanks everyone for your understanding, and I’m sure I’ll be back again in no time at all.